GOSPEL - Jn 3:1-8
There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?” Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘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.”
Blessed + be the Lord, the God of Israel; * He has come to His people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty savior, * born of the house of His servant David. Through His holy prophets He promised of old † that He would save us from our enemies, * from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers * and to remember His holy covenant. This was the oath He swore to our father Abraham: * to set us free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship Him without fear, † holy and righteous in His sight * all the days of our life. You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; * for you will go before the Lord to prepare His way, to give His people knowledge ofsalvation * by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God * the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, * and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Monday is dedicated to the Holy Spirit & the Holy Souls in Purgatory
STUDY - An excerpt from Link to Liturgy Lesson Adopted Brothers and Sisters
The Church is the means by which all are able to become sons and daughters of Christ. The Church is where we are born again in Baptism. “Baptism, the gateway to the sacraments and necessary for salvation…Through baptism men and women are freed from sin, are reborn as children of God, and, configured to Christ by an indelible character, are incorporated into the Church” (Code of Canon Law; Can. 849). The Church is like a womb for the soul. The Church in her Sacraments sustains the life of souls. Once the soul is born (Baptism) it needs to be strengthened or made firm (Confirmation) and needs to be nourished (Eucharist). This soul, when sick needs to be healed (Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick). The soul, just like a child, needs to learn what its purpose is. What will it do when it grows up? How will it serve God and others? (Marriage and Holy Orders). This soul is not alone; it has the Church as its Mother and Mary as its Mother, since she is the Mother of the Church. It has God as its Father. It has Jesus, and all those who lived the Life of Christ, the Saints, as its siblings.
The Church is the means by which all are able to become sons and daughters of Christ. The Church is where we are born again in Baptism. “Baptism, the gateway to the sacraments and necessary for salvation…Through baptism men and women are freed from sin, are reborn as children of God, and, configured to Christ by an indelible character, are incorporated into the Church” (Code of Canon Law; Can. 849). The Church is like a womb for the soul. The Church in her Sacraments sustains the life of souls. Once the soul is born (Baptism) it needs to be strengthened or made firm (Confirmation) and needs to be nourished (Eucharist). This soul, when sick needs to be healed (Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick). The soul, just like a child, needs to learn what its purpose is. What will it do when it grows up? How will it serve God and others? (Marriage and Holy Orders). This soul is not alone; it has the Church as its Mother and Mary as its Mother, since she is the Mother of the Church. It has God as its Father. It has Jesus, and all those who lived the Life of Christ, the Saints, as its siblings.
