Born from above

Monday, April 29, 2019
2nd Sunday of Easter
1st Reading:
Acts 4:23-31
Gospel: John 3:1-8
Now there was a Pha-risee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ru-ling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]”
“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows whe-rever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spi-rit.”[d]
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
The Gospels abound in instances of bullying of Jesus by the Pharisees. But not all Pharisees were anti-Jesus. One of them named Nicodemus held Jesus in high respect. One night, Nicodemus paid Jesus a visit. The time of the visit is symbolic. Nicodemus did not want to win the ire of his fellow Pharisees by giving some indications that he believed in him. Nonetheless he felt the importance of coming to Jesus, for he nurtured deep in his heart some longing for personal salvation.

For that nascent faith, that seed of conversion germinating in his heart, Jesus took Nicodemus’ visit seriously, and an intimate conversation ensued. Jesus told him, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[” The Greek for “again” also means from above. Jesus expounded on this when he said that no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

Rebirth has to be inspired from above. Without wisdom from the Spirit that comes from above it is impossible for a person to make a return to the Lord. We were born with an inclination to sin and destruction. To be born again means to be inclined to hea-ven. That is why conversion must be heaven-inspired. We do not know if Nicodemus took an entirely different path thereafter. What we know of is that he offered his tomb for Jesus’ burial. It was like accommodating the whole person of Jesus in his most intimate abode – his burial place.

Let us nurture the same desire for our personal salvation as Nicodemus did. God will take us seriously and will send grace from above to see us through. – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., D.M.

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