Monday of the Second Week of Easter

As I reflect on the readings for this day, I am struck by how they talk about the power we have to live as Jesus lived. In the reading from John, Nicodemus says to Jesus "No one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with Him" and Jesus replies that "no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water & the Spirit."

In the reading from Acts, Peter & John, upon being sternly warned by the chief priests of the temple not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus, prayed with their followers to the Lord to enable them " to speak your word with all boldness as ….signs and wonders are done through the name of your holy servant, Jesus."

The verses go on to say that they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak boldly. In these readings, Jesus is saying, yes, we can do all in his name when we are reborn in water & Spirit. And we are reborn in water and spirit in the great gifts of Baptism and Confirmation. Sometimes we forget that we have the power to do great and marvelous deeds in Jesus’ name because He gave us these sacraments. We are like the apostles who hid in fear after the death of Jesus. How often are we afraid to talk about our faith and belief in Jesus in our everyday life when the opportunity arises? How often are we afraid to do what is right in order to fit in with the crowd?

The gift of the Holy Spirit enabled the apostles to proclaim the Good News to the whole world in the face of torture and death. We who have been baptized in water and filled with the power of the Holy Spirit must also overcome fear and live boldly in His name.

Patty Mancuso