Daily Catholic Lectio. Tue, 14 April 2026. Born from Above

Daily Catholic Lectio

Tue, 14 April 2026

Second Week of Easter, Tuesday

Ac 4:32–37. Jn 3:7–15

Born from Above

In today’s Gospel, the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus continues. Jesus speaks of a deep and mysterious truth: “You must be born from above.” The original expression also means “born again,” but more profoundly it points to a birth that comes from God. It is not simply a second beginning, but a new origin—a life that comes from above.

Each of us has already experienced a first birth. We were born into this world through our parents. This birth gives us identity—our family, culture, language, and background. These are all good and important. But Jesus invites us to go beyond this. He speaks of another birth, a second birth, which gives meaning and direction to the first.

This new birth comes through water and the Spirit. It begins in baptism, but it continues throughout our life as we grow in openness to the Spirit. It is not just about becoming religious or following practices. It is about becoming new from within. Sometimes it is said that we are born once to live, but we must be born again to understand why we live. This second birth reveals our purpose.

Nicodemus finds this difficult to understand. He is a learned man, formed in a strong religious tradition. He carries a sense of identity and achievement. Yet Jesus gently shows him that what comes from below—our status, knowledge, and background—can also become a limitation if it closes us to what comes from above.

This is true for us as well. When we live only from our first birth, we begin to define ourselves by differences—gender, social status, language, or group identity. These can slowly divide us and narrow our vision. But when we are born from above, something changes within us. We begin to live with a deeper freedom.

Jesus compares this new life to the wind. “The wind blows where it wills.” The one who is born of the Spirit becomes like the wind—free, open, not controlled by narrow boundaries. Such a person belongs to God and therefore learns to belong to all. There is a new spaciousness in the heart.

Jesus also speaks of the Son of Man being “lifted up.” This refers to His cross, His resurrection, and His ascension. To be born from above is to be connected to this mystery—to see life through the cross, where love is given fully, and through the resurrection, where new life begins.

The first reading gives us a concrete example of this new birth. The early Christian community is described as “one heart and one soul.” They share what they have. No one is in need. This is not just generosity; it is transformation. The resurrection of Jesus has changed them deeply. Personally, they move from fear to courage. As a community, they move from self-centered living to communion and sharing.

In this way, the whole community is living as people born from above. Their life is marked by unity, closeness, prayer, and care for one another. They become a visible sign that a new way of living is possible.

Today, the Word of God invites us to reflect quietly: Am I living only from my first birth, or am I allowing myself to be born from above? This new birth is not a single moment; it is a daily journey. It means choosing what is higher over what is lower, what is spiritual over what is merely external, what unites over what divides.

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