TUESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF EASTER, APRIL 26, 2022

MASS READINGS

A Gospel according to Jn 3:7b-15

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.”

REFLECTION

“We speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen.”

Nicodemus had questions and Jesus was responding to him. We need to ask questions, especially about our beliefs and faith. And after that, we need to share this knowledge with others. Are we doing this?

Over a decade ago, Pope Benedict XVI asked forgiveness on behalf of generations of “cradle Catholics” who have failed to transmit the faith to others.

The Pope said an apology is due because “we bring people so little of the light of His face, because from us comes so little certainty that He exists, that He is there, and that He is the Great One that everyone is waiting for.” *

It has also been my attitude, as a cradle Catholic, that of know-it-all, and stop studying the teachings of the Church. And also not sharing in our beliefs.

Good habits take a couple of weeks to be learned. We just need to setup a time, the same time everyday for a good habit such as praying, or reading a book that will feed our soul.

We also need to transmit the faith and connect with others. Maybe it is not that easy to "get to meet people" right now.

Sharing the faith doesn't have to be a complicated matter. We can invite family members to Mass, or even do small acts of charity for the love of Jesus: open the door and let someone else go before us. Be kind to cashiers at the store and ask them about their day. Teach a young child a simple Catholic song or prayer, etc.

When I am about to do something like this, I say a prayer to my guardian Angel to help me, and to the guardian Angel of the other person. Our Angels are always more than happy to help us, especially when it is about working towards our salvation.

God bless y'all!

* Source: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/23257/pope-asks-forgiveness-for-cradle-catholics-who-did-not-evangelize