Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Monday in the second week of Easter, April 28, 2025

Delivered by Chendani Budhi from the Parish of the Assumption of Mary in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Acts of the Apostles 4: 23-31; Rs psalm 2: 1-3.4-6.7-9; John 3: 1-8.OURCHRISTIAN REBIRTH Ourmeditation today is entitled: Our Christian Rebirth. Jesus' conversation withNicodemus in today's gospel reading presents a challenge to the faith that weall face today. That challenge is on how we renew our faith to become what iscalled our Christian rebirth. The teaching of Jesus Christ leads us to have theright understanding about our rebirth. This is so necessary in our journey offaith on earth. But this rebirth is not biological, which means we shouldreturn to our mothers’ womb to be born the second time. Thatconversation actually wants to change the biological understanding of rebirthinto a rebirth in the water and the Spirit. The birth in the water is an act offorgiveness of sins and this brings us back to the baptism in the Jordan riverthat John the Baptist had done. Whereas the birth in the Spirit is the baptismin the Holy Spirit to make those baptized truly belong to the life of JesusChrist. It is through the birth in the water and the Spirit, then lies thesacrament of baptism in the Church that we have until now. Thebaptized persons are those who are full with the Holy Spirit. Long before ourbaptism in Jesus Christ, the apostles who gathered and prayed in the name ofthe Lord Jesus Christ, were all full with the Holy Spirit. This fulness in theHoly Spirit then led them to preach the gospel so openly to the world aroundthem. After the fullness of the Holy Spirit that we have received in baptism, theLord then strengthened or confirmed us in the sacrament of Confirmation. Basically,the one who has received this sacrament is considered to have the ability topreach the gospel by his or her knowledge, words, deeds, and his or her own Christianwitness of life. He or she also dares to defend the faith even thoughchallenges and obstacles may cause him or her danger and hardship. Thepoint is this, we obtain the fullness of the Holy Spirit through the renewal ofour faith. The meaningful faith experience of Nicodemus was something alreadyhappened in the past during the time of Jesus. Our situation today is absolutelydifferent. However, the challenge is still the same, namely the faith we haveobtained through the Sacrament of initiation needs renewal. The Apostles’ Creedthat we regularly recite in our profession of faith should remind us of therenewal of our baptism. The Eucharist that we celebrate daily or weekly is therenewal of the First Communion that we had received for the first time. Thecommission that we always receive in liturgical celebrations is the moment ofthe renewal of the sacrament of Confirmation that we had received before. Everytime we make these renewals it is worth remembering and realizing that we areactually full with the Holy Spirit.Let's pray. In thename of the Father ... O heavenly Father, may Your Spirit always strengthen ourfaith now and for ever. Hail Mary full of grace ... In the nameof the Father ...