Tuesday of the
Second Week of Easter
(Acts 4:32-37; John 3:7b-15)
Jesus explains to Nicodemus the movement of the Spirit in
today’s gospel. He says that it moves
the reborn person to act in new ways. She
no longer lives for herself but for others.
She loves without expecting anything in return. She also takes delight in seeing others
growing free, loving, and wise. The
Spirit has assured her of God’s infinite love.
This kind of person makes up the community of disciples described in the
reading from Acts. Each member supports
one another. The result is that everyone
has all that is necessary to live in peace.
Communal experiences of mutual love are frequently tried
and sometimes they last for years.
Usually they end as members are drawn away by different personal
needs. However, monasteries have been
able to preserve communal harmony for centuries. They often draw high-minded people who respond
well to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
We may not live in communities as mutually supportive as
that of the Christians in Jerusalem after the resurrection. Nor are we likely to
join a monastery. Nevertheless, we are
being moved by the Holy Spirit to live less individualistically, more
communally. We feel the urge to share time
and material possessions with those in need.
We also are prompted to move beyond our fears and desires to assist
others. In these ways we show ourselves
to be born from above with heaven as likewise our destiny.
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