The Holy Spirit renews us in baptism

On Monday the Sixth week of Easter our Church invites us to first read and reflect on a passage from the first letter of the apostle John (2:1-11) entitled "The new commandment". Our treasure, which follows, is from the treatise On the Trinity  by Didymus of Alexandria. Didymus the Blind was a 4th-century Christian teacher and theologian from Alexandria who made an important contribution to the Church through his deep biblical scholarship and defense of orthodox doctrine. Despite losing his sight as a child, he became head of the famous Catechetical School of Alexandria and was renowned for his extraordinary memory and mastery of Scripture. He is best known for his strong defense of the divinity of the Holy Spirit against Arian and Semi-Arian errors, helping to clarify the Church's teaching on the Trinity during a critical period of doctrinal development. His work On the Holy Spirit was especially influential in affirming that the Spirit is fully God, equal with the Father and the Son. In addition, Didymus contributed through extensive biblical commentaries, particularly using the allegorical method common in the Alexandrian tradition (following figures like Origen). He helped shape how Scripture could be read both literally and spiritually, influencing later theologians such as St. Jerome. The primary teaching of today's treasure from Didymus the Blind's "The Holy Spirit renews us in Baptism" is that Baptism is not just a symbolic act but a real transformation brought about by the Holy Spirit. Through the Spirit, a person is cleansed from sin, given new life, and reborn as a child of God. Didymus emphasizes that the same Spirit who is divine and life-giving makes us spiritually new, enabling us to share in God's life and begin living as renewed, holy people. In today's first reading from First Epistle of John (2:1–11), the main takeaway is that truly knowing Jesus Christ means both turning away from sin and living out His commandment of love. Christ is our advocate when we fall, but genuine faith is shown by obedience—especially loving others as He loves us. For Catholics, the message is that love is not optional but essential: to walk in God's light is to reject hatred, practice forgiveness, and actively love others, which is the clearest sign of living in communion with Him.