A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
In today’s Gospel, Jesus continues to teach Nicodemus about the kingdom of God. He says to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?” Nicodemus struggles with faith in the work of the Holy Spirit, action that comes from beyond what is earthly. “No one has gone up to heaven,” Jesus tells him, “except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.” By saying this, Jesus reveals his divinity as the Son who, by being lifted on the cross, brings salvation to the whole world. Jesus says to Nicodemus: “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” With these words, Jesus speaks not only to Nicodemus but to everyone who would hear and believe him.
God, help me understand the heavenly things Jesus teaches Nicodemus. It is clear that your Son goes ahead of anyone who believes in him, dying and rising, and now at your right hand in majesty. In imperative form, Jesus says, “You must be born from above.” There is no questions about the necessity of being born of the Spirit. Yet, human shortcomings often tend to derail me from that goal, and it is only with your grace that I allow my will to be your will. “The wind blows where it wills,” Jesus says, “and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.” Lord, grant me the grace to listen for your will and to abandon myself to it in this life so that I may one day be born to eternal life in your kingdom.
The Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. Alleluia, alleluia.
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.