20-Apr-20

Gospel JN 3:1-8

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.”

Reflection

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.”

Nicodemus was a Pharisee, an educated man and a member of the Sanhedrin, the religious ruling class of the Jews. Most Pharisees would have been opposed to Jesus’ teaching but Nicodemus was curious to know more about this man Jesus who performed miracles that could have only come from God.

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?”

There will always be people like Nicodemus who seek to learn everything about Jesus but fail to understand that to truly know Him we must at some point invite Jesus into our hearts.

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.’

By telling Nicodemus, “You must be born from above,” Jesus is inviting him to make the longest trip in the world: From the head (knowledge of God’s presence) to the heart (feeling the love of God).

By embracing the love of Christ in our hearts, our thoughts and actions will be guided by the invading presence of the Holy Spirit.

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.”

When confronted with situations that would otherwise baffle us, we learn to call upon the Spirit to give us direction, strength and confidence. It becomes second nature for us to whisper, “Come Holy Spirit, guide me toward Your will.”

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things……” John 14:26