The great theologian Thomas Aquinas tells us that the human soul is “capax Dei”— has a kind of natural capacity for God, a potential for God. In fact, he even specifies that Christ became man “so that he might make human beings gods.”

However, we cannot fulfill our potential to become gods on our own steam. We need an “outside factor” apart from ourselves. That factor is God. If he does not intervene on our behalf, nothing will happen. This outside intervention is a free gift. It must come from him alone. It is something radically new—like a second life, like a second birth.

Today’s Gospel reading is a description of such a new birth from above, i.e., from God. It is very mysterious. It is like the action of the wind, uncontrollable, unexpected. We cannot see the wind, but we can feel its effects. In like manner, if we let God enter our lives, we shall not see God, but we shall experience his effects—what the apostle Paul calls “the fruit” of the Holy Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal 5:22-23).

After their release Peter and John went back to their own people and reported what the chief priests and elders had told them. And when they heard it, they raised their voices to God with one accord and said, “Sovereign Lord, maker of heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them, you said by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our father David, your servant: Why did the Gentiles rage and the peoples entertain folly? The kings of the earth took their stand and the princes gathered together against the Lord and against his anointed. “Indeed they gathered in this city against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed, Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do what your hand and your will had long ago planned to take place. And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness, as you stretch forth your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

“Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.” or “Alleluia.”

There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?” Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”