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Gospel Reading for April 29, 2025 – John 3: 7b-15
ACCEPTANCE
Jesus said to Nicodemus: “‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to him, ‘How can this happen?” Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this? 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? No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. 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.”
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Although Nicodemus was a Pharisee, he was following Jesus around. Perhaps, he found the teachings of Jesus very interesting. But being a Pharisee, it would not be easy for him to understand what being born from above means, because Pharisees could not think outside the box they made themselves.
If we do not believe in God. If we do not think that we were brought into this world for a reason, for a purpose, it will be truly difficult to understand the teachings of Jesus. Basic to understanding and following Jesus’ teachings, is ACCEPTANCE that life has a SPIRITUAL DIMENSION. Life is not just a matter of being able to breathe, being able to exist, or being able to survive in the midst of adversities . Life is breathing with the air provided by God. Life is having a purpose for our existence. Life is being able to survive in the midst of adversities because we are not alone. Our Creator continues to sustain us with his loving care until the day he decides our time’s up on earth.
We thank you, Lord, for the gift of Faith. Without it, how can we know you and experience your love!
