{"id":7539,"date":"2021-04-13T07:41:12","date_gmt":"2021-04-13T06:41:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/?p=7539"},"modified":"2021-04-13T08:41:52","modified_gmt":"2021-04-13T07:41:52","slug":"13-april-2021-tuesday-second-week-of-easter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.growinlove.ie\/en\/13-april-2021-tuesday-second-week-of-easter\/","title":{"rendered":"13 APRIL 2021, TUESDAY, SECOND WEEK OF EASTER"},"content":{"rendered":"

I invite you to read these lines and imagine living in this kind of world!\u00a0 The people are united, heart and soul. They own nothing themselves but hold everything in common. They witness to a life of love and the common good. There is no one living in poverty in the community. This is because those who own land or houses sell them and bring the money to the apostles to distribute to those in need.<\/p>\n

The good news is that this sharing and generosity are hallmarks of our society today. We recall the numerous charities who engage in fundraising, not least the charities represented on the Late Late Show<\/em> during the pandemic. However, statistics show that more outreach is essential to those who live in poverty throughout the world.<\/p>\n

The first reading proclaimed at Mass today (Acts 4:32-37) describes the early Christian communities.\u00a0 God poured love into the hearts of the people through the Holy Spirit. \u00a0Pope Francis prompts God\u2019s people to such a way of life. The early Christian communities received the Holy Spirit and so \u2018were united, one heart and soul\u2019. \u00a0Today, the faithful hear about the first group of believers.\u00a0 What was so special about them? They shared. They cared for one another and the common good. They lived by the Spirit of Jesus, similar to how people care for one another in this time of pandemic. Citizens strive to maintain social distance and exercise hand hygiene and are vigilant to restrictions.<\/p>\n

We hear in Acts 4:32-37, what one man, Joseph did- \u2018He owned a piece of land and he sold it and brought the money and presented it to the apostles.\u2019 To act in this way Jesus explains later to Nicodemus, is \u2018to be born from above.\u2019<\/p>\n

This spirit of Christianity passed down through the centuries in people. The first Christians believed in Jesus and his way of life. Their faith was strong and enlightened. They proclaimed the Word of God and they responded in love to one another as Jesus showed them. People still show this love and care today, as they are inspired and prompted to support various charities and needs.<\/p>\n

Humankind shares one planet. Presently, while many people strive to care for the planet by being eco-friendly, there are many ways that our lifestyle is destructive and causing terrible harm. Pope Francis calls the planet our common home. Owning things in common is ideally good but such an ideal is open to abuse. The challenge is to maintain a healthy planet so \u2018there is full respect for the human person\u2019 and there must be \u2018concern for the world around us.\u2019 (LS, no. 5).<\/p>\n

St Francis of Assisi images our common home \u2018like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us.\u2019 Two beautiful images of relationship model care, protection, love and nurturance. Throughout his letter to the whole world (Laudato Si\u2019), Pope Francis encourages us to \u2018accept the world as a sacrament of communion, as a way of sharing with God and our neighbours on a global scale.\u2019 (LS, 9).<\/p>\n

In the Gospel (Jn 3:1-8), Jesus continues his conversation with Nicodemus. He explains to him what it is to be born \u2018from above\u2019. Jesus explains it is to live by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus, the third person of the Holy Trinity. The Holy Spirit teaches God\u2019s people to live like Jesus, to pray like Jesus and to love like Jesus. That is why it is so important to encounter the person of Jesus. This happens in prayer and in reading Scripture. To those who give time to prayer, Jesus reveals himself. He teaches his way of love to those who listen in the silence of their hearts.<\/p>\n

Being born \u2018from above\u2019 means being \u2018born of the Spirit.\u2019 The Spirit is like the wind. The wind is a symbol of the Holy Spirt. When we think of the wind, we cannot see it but we can hear its sound. The wind blows where it wills. Nicodemus found this teaching difficult to understand. Then Jesus told him about himself, the Son of Man.\u00a0 God sent Jesus from heaven. Then he \u2018was lifted up\u2019 on the cross and now is glorified by the Father. \u00a0Everyone who believes this Jesus says \u2018will have eternal life.\u2019<\/p>\n

The readings today present the faithful with great challenges. The Word of God invites each person to encounter the risen Jesus and to live in love and respect of our neighbour. The Holy Spirit will help God\u2019s people to love, to pray, and to live like Jesus if each one asks for an outpouring of the Spirit into our hearts.<\/p>\n

VERITAS publications provides online resources including the Grow in Love\/I nGr\u00e1 D\u00e9<\/em> e-books to support these themes. They are available on the Grow in Love<\/em> website.<\/p>\n

Website: growinlove.ie<\/p>\n

Email: trial@growinlove.ie<\/p>\n

Password: growinlove<\/p>\n

INVITATION<\/u><\/p>\n

PRAY<\/p>\n