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First Reading: Acts 4:23-31
As soon as Peter and John were set free, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and elders had said to them.
When they heard it, they raised their voices as one and called upon God, "Sovereign Lord, maker of heaven and earth, of the sea and everything in them, you have put these words in the mouth of David, our father and your servant, through the Holy Spirit: Why did the pagan nations rage and the people conspire in folly? The kings of the earth were aligned and the princes gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.
For indeed in this very city Herod with Pontius Pilate, and the pagans together with the people of Israel conspired against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. Thus, indeed, they brought about whatever your powerful will had decided from all time would happen. But now, Lord, see their threats against us and enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and to work signs and wonders through the Name of Jesus your holy servant."
When they had prayed, the place where they were gathered together shook, and they were all filled with Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 2:1-3, 4-7a, 7b-9
R./ Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord. or Alleluia.
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples utter folly?
The kings of the earth rise up,
and the princes conspire together
against the Lord and against his anointed:
"Let us break their fetters
and cast their bonds from us!"
R./ Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord. or Alleluia.
He who is throned in heaven laughs;
the Lord derides them.
Then in anger he speaks to them;
he terrifies them in his wrath:
"I myself have set up my king
on Zion, my holy mountain."
I will proclaim the decree of the Lord.
R./ Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord. or Alleluia.
The Lord said to me, "You are my Son;
this day I have begotten you.
Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession.
You shall rule them with an iron rod;
you shall shatter them like an earthen dish."
R./ Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord. or Alleluia.
Gospel Reading: Jn 3:1-8
Among the Pharisees there was a ruler of the Jews named Nicodemus. He came to Jesus by night and said, "Rabbi, we know that you have come from God to teach us, for no one can perform miraculous signs like yours unless God is with him."
Jesus replied, "Truly, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again from above."
Nicodemus said, "How can there be rebirth for a grown man? Who could go back to his mother's womb and be born again?" Jesus replied, "Truly, I say to you: No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Because of this, don't be surprised when I say: 'You must be born again from above.'
"The wind blows where it pleases and you hear its sound, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going. It is like that with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Introduction
Nicodemus, the sincere but cautious intellectual, comes to Jesus at night. He is afraid to show openly that he follows Christ. The apostles and the Christian community are persecuted. They are afraid too, but pray for courage. The Spirit makes them bold in proclaiming Christ and in being signs of Christ's presence in his community. Christians are people who are to be reborn in Christ, reborn in the Spirit. Hence, they are people who should remain eternally young. Is our faith timid or bold? Do we dare stand up for the gospel and live our faith openly?
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
our faith is at times timid and wavering,
for we are afraid
of being contradicted or ridiculed.
Let your Spirit blow in us
and give us a bit of his strength,
that we may stand up boldly
for what we believe
and live our faith consistently.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
General Intercessions
- For the newly baptized, that their faith may always remain fresh and young, we pray:
- For all the baptized, that the Spirit may keep them from letting their faith becoming apathetic and passive, we pray:
- For our Christian communities, that they may boldly proclaim their faith by their spirit of service and compassion, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
your Holy Spirit changes our offerings
of bread and wine into Christ.
May he also send down his power
on his Christian community,
to unite and to renew us again and again,
until we dare to proclaim
the message of your Son
by the witnessing of our lives.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
you have your own wise ways
to carry out your plans;
when people try to frustrate them,
they cannot be but losers.
God, give us your Spirit of wisdom,
the Spirit in whom who have been reborn in baptism,
and in him keep us ever young of heart and mind,
that we may keep serving you
with the enthusiasm of our youth.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
Blessing
We have all been reborn in baptism. Let our minds and hearts not grow old, but stay fresh and active, whatever our age. May God bless you, the Father, and he Son, and the Holy Spirit.
