It is 13th April 2015. The readings are from Acts.4:23-31 and the Gospel Jn.3:1-8. The first reading describes the power of prayer of the Apostles and the Holy Spirit. “As they prayed, the house where they were assembled rocked; they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim the word of God boldly.” (Acts.4:31). Prayer brings courage. Courage to preach with openness. The Spirit of God offers courage as the gift for those who ask in prayer. The responsorial Psalm praises, “Blessed are they who put their trust in God.” (Ps.2:13). The Gospel points out the necessities for salvation. “No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” (Jn. 3:5). Water symbolises physical birth and the Spirit signifies the spiritual birth. We are cleansed and purified through the Sacraments of the Church to experience the spiritual nature. Grace offers us a new nature and the beginning. The water represents also the cleansing action of the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5). Spiritual rebirth is the essence to enter and be part of the kingdom of God. Jesus expounds the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit cannot be directed or controlled by human power. He works in the way we cannot understand and predict. “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (Jn.3:8). As we have no control over our physical birth so we have no control over spiritual birth too. It is a gift from God the Holy Spirit. May the Spirit of God grant us the courage to take side and create a space for God in our lives.