St. Athanasius, Bishop, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)
By Lorenz S. Centino, Jr.John 3: 1 - 8
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicode'mus, a ruler of the Jews.
2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him."
3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
4 Nicode'mus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, `You must be born anew.'
8 The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit."
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS:
A BLESSED MONDAY TO ALL!!!
The Pharisees are always seen in the Gospel accounts in a very hostile and an unfriendly position against Jesus. They are always criticizing Jesus and making condemnation against him as a law breaker. Generally, we find the Pharisees as a group that antagonizes Jesus in everything that he does. However, in the Gospel today we have a different picture of a Pharisee in the person of Nicodemus.
One can expect form Nicodemus a more hostile and unfriendly attitude towards Jesus for being a ruler of the Jews and a Pharisee. On the contrary he sneaked out at night, maybe to hide himself from being noticed by his fellow Pharisees, in order to see Jesus. This very act is already a sign of his cordial interest in Jesus. He came not to confront and judge Jesus for any violation against their law and tradition. He rather came expressing what most of the Pharisees failed to recognize in Jesus. Nicodemus confessed that he recognized Jesus to be a man of God. He even addressed Jesus Rabbi which his fellow Pharisees were over jealous and dismiss to be an unfit title for Jesus. Here we have a glimpse of the reality that not everyone who happened to be at the other fence (group, association, party or faction) can be considered an enemy, adversary or rival. Difference in religion, particularly, should not be taken as a reason and cause for animosity. Such difference only invites the practice of the virtue of respect and seeing the importance for a dialogue. As Nicodemus was not blinded by his being a Pharisee in seeing the “goodness” of Jesus, we too must also be open to recognize in the goodness of others who are different from our religious allegiance and affiliation. As Nicodemus took the step to get to speak with Jesus, we must also be proactive in reaching out in dialogue and cooperation with those of other Christian denominations and other religions. With this we can share the richness and treasure of our Catholic faith to others.
In that meeting with Nicodemus, Jesus took the opportunity of leading Nicodemus to see the way to the fullness of life by seeing the Kingdom of God. Jesus revealed the KEY to this fullness of life by telling Nicodemus, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Being BORN AGAIN is the entrance into the KINGDOM OF GOD. However, Nicodemus misunderstood Jesus by interpreting Jesus words in the “physically sense.” It is indeed impossible to be born again by our mothers. However, this is the kind of thinking that leads many of us to be blinded in finding and walking the path leading to the Kingdom of God. When our hearts and minds are set only on the “PHYSICAL”, it would be hard for us to live in a “higher” level of existence. And so Jesus clarified to Nicodemus that being born again means to be SPIRITUALY REBORN into a NEW LIFE through an INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP with GOD.
This spiritual rebirth happens when one is BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST and received the GIFT of the HOLY SPIRIT that will make us adopted children of God, thus heirs of the victory of Jesus on the CROSS- his resurrection, our resurrection. To be baptized in Jesus is to CONFORM ourselves into the image of Christ. We can conform ourselves to Christ only by following the WILL of GOD. This is the way to the Kingdom of God because to follow God’s will is to make God RULE our lives. Therefore, God will truly be the KING of our lives. For us who are baptized in Jesus, the Gospel today is challenging us to keep on making the WILL of GOD the STANDARD of our lives.
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