MONDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF EASTER, YEAR C, APRIL 28, 2025. PRAYER FOR BOLDNESS

In the first reading, the Apostles prayed asking for God’s gift of boldness in order to proclaim the word of God as they received threats from some of the Jews people. “……..And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” The apostles prayed for the spirit to lead them. The Spirit’s gift of fortitude. The Spirit (Hebrew ruah, and pneuma in Greek) mean both wind, breath, and spirit. God’s Spirit blows where He wills, as Jesus himself said “The wind blows where it will… You do not know where it comes from or where it goes.”

In today’s gospel, we heard about the boldness of Nicodemus, Pharisee, a leader of the Jews, who came to Jesus by night. Nicodemus saw something different in Jesus and His ministry which made him to approach Jesus. Though he couldn’t understand what Jesus was actually trying to tell him, he still seeks the truth. Here, faith seeking understanding. I do not see Nicodemus’s questions are resistances, but I see Nicodemus as a gentle soul searching of more in his spiritual quest.

The Spirit of God helps us to understand. Jesus himself said it well ‘The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, will lead you to the complete truth.’

I will not like to dive into the reason Nicodemus may have come to Jesus in secret, by night, under the cover of darkness. I will leave this for another day.

I will rather say, thank God, Nicodemus did come to Jesus.

Someone of us go to Jesus at night, some in daytime, but the worse time is not to go to him at all.

Remember, it was this same Nicodemus along with Joseph of Arimathea who ensures that Jesus gets a dignified burial. What a world!

This is a good Easter story. Sometimes we are like Nicodemus, aren’t we?
Easter is a good time spiritual rebirth and to invite the Holy Spirit to be our guide in life.