St. Martin I, Pope  & martyr 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Acts 4:32-37

 The whole community of believers

Was one in heart and mind. No one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but rather they shared all things in common. With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, for all of them were living in an exceptional time of grace.

 There was no needy person among them, for those who owned land or houses, sold them and brought the proceeds of the sale. And they laid it at the feet of the apostles who distributed it according to each one’s need.

 This is what a certain Joseph did. He was a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barna­bas, meaning: “The encouraging one.” He sold a field which he owned and handed the money to the apostles.

 

Ps 93:1ab, 1cd-2, 5

The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

John 3:7b-15

 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.”

 Nicodemus asked again, “How can this be?”   And Jesus answered, “You are a teacher in Israel, and you don’t know these things!  Truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we witness to the things we have seen, but you don’t accept our testimony.   

If you don’t believe when I speak of earthly things, what then, when I speak to you of heavenly things?   No one has ever gone up to heaven except the one who came from heaven, the Son of Man.

 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,   so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

 

Gospel Reflection：

The converstion between Jesus and Nicodemus is sometimes brutally frank. If the latter is a man of Lesser stuff, he would walk away and go on with his comfortable life and beliefs. But his thirst for truth is too strong that he remains despite the strong words of the Lord.

This is a conversation between men who are comfortable with themselves. Both are mature and secure in themselves that words do not wound them easily. After all, they are just vehicles to convey thoughts and feelings. Respect need not fly away when one disagrees with the other.

The conversations between these two mature men must have been interesting. Nicodemus heard that which others will have to ponder for the rest of their lives.