Tuesday, April 13, 2021

 Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter

 (Acts 4:32-37; John 3:7b-15)

Everyone who knows the four gospels recognizes that John’s is different from Matthew’s, Mark’s, and Luke’s.  One significant difference is that in John’s gospel, Jesus does not teach with parables.  There are no long pedagogical stories in John’s like the “Good Samaritan” in Luke’s or the “Vineyard Owner” in Mark’s.  Rather the evangelist John is the master of another teaching technique not commonly found in the others.  In John’s gospel Jesus teaches by means of extended dialogues with different characters such as Nicodemus in today’s passage.

 Nicodemus has come to Jesus “at night,” which symbolizes being unenlightened.  Perhaps he is impressed with Jesus like Jerusalemites of the first century must have been with the Christian community holding everything in common.  In any case, Jesus tells Nicodemus about the power behind such generous sharing.  It is this way “with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”  When Nicodemus asks about the source of the Spirit, Jesus replies a bit cryptically but nevertheless understandably to the Christian readers of the gospel.  He says that the source of the Spirit is himself, “the Son of Man,” being “lifted up” on the cross.

The same generosity of Christians through the ages has drawn many people closer to Christ.  We should not hesitate to add to this effort.  This does not mean that we make public displays of our giving.  Rather, it means to treat all people better than indifferently and showing particular care for the poor.