Monday of the Second Week of Easter
(Acts 4:23-31; John 3:1-8)
Where the Gospel of John notes that Nicodemus comes to Jesus “at night,” its purpose is not to give the reader the time of day. Rather, “night” in this gospel indicates ignorance and possibly evil. In this case could Nicodemus do better than to consult Jesus, “the light of the world”?
Jesus sounds obscure to Nicodemus (and possibly to us as well) as he advises that one must be “born from above” to see the Kingdom of God. We know that Jesus is referring to Baptism here, but we should not think of it as a ceremonial washing. No, for the Gospel of John Baptism is the profound experience of being adopted into a whole new family. It is the joy of being loved not out of familial obligation, much less from egotistical passion, but from recognition of one’s innate dignity and despite one’s shortcomings and past mistakes. It is, as well, the Spirit’s empowerment to love others with like abandon.
Protestants often speak of their “born again” experiences which lead to Baptism. They may use Nicodemus’ term but have Jesus’ understanding of being “born from above” in mind. Catholics, typically baptized as infants, are at a loss with either expression. To get an idea of what Jesus means, we might recall an instance where we erred dismally – perhaps failing to visit a dying friend or cruelly insulting another. Then after confessing our sin and making some kinds of amends, we felt the love of Christ return to us as soothing as it was undeserved. This is, at least in part, the experience of being born again.
Showing posts with label born again. Show all posts
Showing posts with label born again. Show all posts
Homilette for Monday, April 16, 2007
Monday, II Easter
(John 3)
Raymond used to drink a lot. We would say he had a drinking problem. He might have even called himself an alcoholic bound to nowhere except, perhaps, an early death. One day, however, he decided to stop drinking. The decision came in the midst of prayer and was supported by prayer. Since that moment Raymond has never been drunk again. In fact, he never takes a drink although he will sip the Precious Blood when it is offered at Mass.
Such a radical turnabout seems to be what Jesus has in mind when he speaks of being born again. He does not intend to say that one has merely to submit to the Baptism ritual to see the kingdom of God. No, he seems to have a more fundamental experience in mind. He seems to mean undergoing a transformation so that the person lives in a completely new way. Like Raymond those who experience such a change know that it is primarily not their doing. Rather it is a work of grace. Many in the early Church evidently were so tranformed as they were preparing for Baptism.
What about those baptized at a tender age? People like most of us – are we squatters in the kingdom of God? Perhaps. We can test ourselves. Do we see radical change for the better in ourselves? Do we find ourselves becoming more God-like? If we liked to talk about ourselves, are we now ready to listen to others? If we used to look at others as objects of sexual fancy, are we now seeing them as God’s children? Such transformation is what water and the Spirit is all about.
(John 3)
Raymond used to drink a lot. We would say he had a drinking problem. He might have even called himself an alcoholic bound to nowhere except, perhaps, an early death. One day, however, he decided to stop drinking. The decision came in the midst of prayer and was supported by prayer. Since that moment Raymond has never been drunk again. In fact, he never takes a drink although he will sip the Precious Blood when it is offered at Mass.
Such a radical turnabout seems to be what Jesus has in mind when he speaks of being born again. He does not intend to say that one has merely to submit to the Baptism ritual to see the kingdom of God. No, he seems to have a more fundamental experience in mind. He seems to mean undergoing a transformation so that the person lives in a completely new way. Like Raymond those who experience such a change know that it is primarily not their doing. Rather it is a work of grace. Many in the early Church evidently were so tranformed as they were preparing for Baptism.
What about those baptized at a tender age? People like most of us – are we squatters in the kingdom of God? Perhaps. We can test ourselves. Do we see radical change for the better in ourselves? Do we find ourselves becoming more God-like? If we liked to talk about ourselves, are we now ready to listen to others? If we used to look at others as objects of sexual fancy, are we now seeing them as God’s children? Such transformation is what water and the Spirit is all about.
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