Monday of the Second Week of Easter
Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Jn 3: 1-8
April 17, 2023 | Monday
Among the Pharisees there was a ruler of the Jews named Nicodemus. He came to Jesus by night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you have come from God to teach us, for no one can perform miraculous signs like yours unless God is with him.”
Jesus replied, “Truly, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again from above.”
Nicodemus said, “How can there be rebirth for a grown man? Who could go back to his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus replied, “Truly, I say to you: No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Because of this, don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again from above.’
The wind blows where it pleases and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. It is like that with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Today’s Reflection:
Nicodemus visited Jesus at night to talk about how to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus replied, “Truly, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again from above.” This friendship between Jesus and Nicodemus will little by little grow into boldness and courage for later on he reminds his colleagues in the Sanhedrin that the law requires that a person be heard before being judged and finally, Nicodemus appears after the Crucifixion of Jesus to provide the customary embalming spices, and assists Joseph of Arimathea in preparing the body of Jesus for burial. From an admiring Rabbi who visited Jesus at night to a valiant defender of justice, and even a caring friend who takes care of the corpse of Jesus, we see how friendship is manifested in these details. It is indeed great to long for heaven in the company of friends. /Vulnerasti, 2023
