Easter Wk 2nd: Monday 17th April, 2023 April 17, 2023
Reflection on the WORD
Born of the Spirit – Faith: In today’s Gospel, Nicodemus, was authentically searching for God’s Truth of Salvation. Jesus revealed to him that a person needs to be born of the Holy Spirit; in the Kingdom of God. Ponder on: We cannot discover God’s Truth of Salvation, through human thinking; but, only through the divine gift of faith in the Holy Spirit.
John 3:1-8
There was one of the Pharisees called Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews, who came to Jesus by night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher; for no one could perform the signs that you do unless God were with him.’
Jesus answered: ‘In all truth I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said, ‘How can anyone who is already old be born? Is it possible to go back into the womb again and be born?’
Jesus replied: ‘In all truth I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born through water and the Spirit; what is born of human nature is human; what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be surprised when I say: You must be born from above. The wind blows where it pleases; you can hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- Nicodemus, the Pharisee, was sincerely searching for the Truth about the Messiah when he approached Jesus.
- However, he did not have the gift of faith to perceive that Jesus is the Son of God. His mind was prejudiced by his Jewish background and his heart was too hardened that the Truth of Jesus could neither enlighten his mind nor penetrate his heart.
- Are there any prejudices in us that continue to blind us to the Truth about Jesus and the Good News of Salvation? Ponder on how you can deepen your love for Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.