17 April, 2023 | Monday of the Second Week of Easter
Gospel Jn 3:1-8
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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
Nicodemus was a silent follower of Christ. Though he was a teacher, he addresses Jesus as “Rabbi” because he found a true teacher in Jesus. Jesus was instructing Nicodemus about a spiritual rebirth into his own life. That is of a new baptism of water and Spirit which makes us children of God through sanctifying grace. This rebirth is from God because only God can give us his Spirit, while natural birth is earthly. Through the sacrament of Baptism, we are purified from sin and endowed with the supernatural life through Spirit. Though we cannot see the Spirit, we experience it and know its presence without seeing it. It is the Spirit that searches us, knows us and guides us.
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