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.”
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, a learned Pharisee, was devoted to the worship of God. The majority of Pharisees were opposed to Jesus, but Nicodemus sensed that “God was with Jesus,” so he visited Him secretly.

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?”

Nicodemus’ learning was confined to obedience of religious law. He knew nothing about the Holy Spirit or being “born from above.” He was bewildered by Jesus’ words.

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.”

I can relate to and sympathize with Nicodemus.
Growing up in the 1940s and 50s, I too was schooled in a never ending list of “religious laws.” It was a sin to eat meat on Friday. Skipping Mass on Sunday was “mortal sin” and you would go to Hell if you died with that sin on your soul. A person should never receive Communion unless they had just gone to confession. And absolutely avoid anything to do with sensual matters.

In 1965 when Pope John Paul XXIII convened the second Vatican Council the Church began to put less emphasis on religious law. Instead they focused on enlightening people about the Spirit of God moving in their lives.

“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.”

Like Nicodemus, I believe in the value of knowing and obeying God’s commandments. But the strength of my personal relationship with God is based on my love and reliance on the Holy Spirit. As an adult I was “born again” when I began to understand and embrace the love of God by opening myself to the invading presence of the Holy Spirit. It was only through the grace of the Holy Spirit that I was I able to move my understanding of God’s love from my mind to my heart.

The weight of religious law can be a heavy and challenging burden, but willingly opening oneself up to the guidance and love of the Holy Spirit makes observance of the law a light and welcoming blessing.

“The commandments may point to Heaven but the Holy Spirit is the light that guides us along the path.” Unknown