April 21, Tuesday Easter Weekday

The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.--Psalm 93:1

Mass readings: Acts 4:32-37 / John 3:7-15

Knowing Inside Out

The nighttime conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus continues in today's Gospel. Is it going anywhere? They seem to be talking past each other. Jesus speaks of being born again in the Spirit, and Nicodemus wonders how he might reenter his mother's womb. Finally Nicodemus asks, ''How can this happen?'' He wants an answer he can understand, as it were, ''from the outside,'' and therefore doesn't find one. Jesus is speaking of a reality -- the reality of our transformation, of our birth to new life in Him -- that can only be known ''from the inside,'' from within the new life of faith, hope and love.

As we know the feel of the wind on our face by experiencing it, not by talking about it, so we know what life in Christ is only by living it.

Prayer: Breathe on me, breath of God, until this earthly part of me glows with Thy fire divine.