God is Still at Work in Us

Homily for Tuesday of the 2nd Week in Easter

In our readings today, we’re given a picture of what happens when the Holy Spirit truly takes hold of a community and of a heart.

Acts tells us that the early Christians were “of one heart and mind.” That unity wasn’t forced. It wasn’t the result of rules or pressure. It flowed naturally from people who had encountered the risen Christ and allowed the Spirit to reshape their priorities. Suddenly, possessions became secondary. Generosity became instinctive. Their lives pointed to something greater than themselves.

And then Jesus, in the Gospel, speaks to Nicodemus about being “born from above.” Nicodemus is a good man, a religious man, but Jesus invites him into something deeper—a new way of seeing, of living, of trusting. Jesus points to the bronze serpent lifted up in the desert, and then to Himself, who will be lifted up on the cross. New life comes from looking at Him, trusting Him, letting His love recreate us.

Put these readings together, and you see a pattern: When we look to Christ, we are reborn. When we are reborn, we become free. When we are free, we become generous. And when we are generous, the world sees the power of God alive in us.

The early Church didn’t grow because of clever strategies. It grew because people saw a community transformed—people who loved differently, shared differently, lived differently. That same Spirit is offered to us today. The question is whether we will allow ourselves to be “born from above”—to let Christ reshape our priorities, our relationships, our generosity, our courage.

If we let Him, our lives—like the early Christians—will become a sign that God is still at work, still reigning, still lifting up His people.