Homily for Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Easter

In today’s gospel passage, Nicodemus, a well-educated person, strong in his beliefs, seems flabbergasted in his conversation with Jesus.

His conversation with Jesus is a challenge for him because what Jesus is saying doesn’t fit with what he holds as truth. In response, Jesus encourages him to let the Holy Spirit dwell in him, that he may be reborn.

So often, we are told to surrender ourselves to the Spirit. In today’s passage though, Jesus is not asking us to surrender but to open minds and hearts to the Spirit. He is not asking us to give up anything but simply to “listen” to the Spirit.

Our relationship with God is just that: a relationship. That means we take an active part, both in speaking and in listening. It is in this relating to the Spirit that we understand who and what God is in our lives and in our souls, and who we are to God.

So, let us pray that we will truly open ourselves to the Holy Spirit in our lives, so that we may truly come to know God and keep Him in our awareness as an ever-present and influential reality in our lives.+