Monday, April 13, 2015

April 13 - Homily for Today

Our gospel passage today tells of the great teaching episode between Jesus and a Pharisee named Nicodemus – a secret admirer and follower of Jesus – regarding “second birth”! All of the merits of the death and resurrection of Jesus would be useless unless there was a way to access them: the way is through baptism, through being “born a second time,” this time by water and the spirit – the formula of baptism!

It still seemed that Nicodemus could not grasp what Jesus was saying: he is stuck on the phrasing “born again” – how can one be “born again?” Jesus tries to tell him that the first birth (from the mother’s womb) is of flesh, but the second birth (from water and the spirit) is of spirit: directly from the supernatural life of God.

Then Jesus tells him that he must be “born from above” in order to access all of the graces that his upcoming Passion and Death would merit. And this would make him free – truly free – which Jesus refers to by talking about the wind blowing where it wills: those born of the Spirit, literally live unfettered lives!

In the first reading today, the place where the Jews prayed together – as they reflected on the events of Jesus life and death and resurrection – shook (with excitement and joy); may the place where we pray shake as well with the excitement that comes from “touching God” “touching Jesus” “touching Salvation!”


If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

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