Monday 12 April
Today is Monday the 12 April in the Second Week of Easter.
The Community of Taizé sing Dominus Spiritus est “The Lord is the Spirit; the Spirit gives life. As I listen can I become aware that God is the source of all life, the one in whom we live and move and have our being.
Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.
John 3:1-8
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God." Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born anew." Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
‘No one can see the kingdom of God without being born anew.’ What do you think Jesus means?
Nicodemus takes Jesus literally: ‘can one enter one’s mother’s womb a second time and be reborn?’ But Jesus means something more mysterious, more spiritual. What do you think it would feel like, to be taught like this by Jesus?
Nicodemus comes by night. Why do you think John adds that detail? Listen again to this story, and think about what it’s like to have a secret conversation like this with Jesus, in the dark.
Spend some time now trying to talk with Jesus, or even Nicodemus, asking that you might somehow sense the Spirit in your life.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.