Daily Mass Gospel Reflection- Rebirth And Reconfiguration

Word on Fire Ministry ^ | 4-17.23 | Bishop Robert Barron

[MurphsLaw]

SECOND WEEK OF EASTER
John 3:1–8

Friends, today in this inexhaustibly rich conversation with Nicodemus in the Gospel,
Jesus tells the Israelite elder:
“Unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

He is speaking with great directness here about metanoia,
about the change of attitude required before one is capable of living in the energy of the Incarnation.
Jesus senses that Nicodemus, the great “teacher of Israel,”
is caught in the net of ego concerns, still clinging fearfully to his power and status,
still exulting in his grasp of the religious traditions of his people.

And Jesus’ concerns are confirmed
by the almost comic rationalism of Nicodemus’ response to his invitation to rebirth:
“How can a man once grown old be born again?
Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?”
While Jesus speaks the evocative and analogical language of the soul,
Nicodemus hears with the ears of the ego,
the rational power that wishes to know clearly and control.

It is precisely this fearful rationalism that Nicodemus must abandon in the painful process
of rebirth and reconfiguration of the soul.

[MurphsLaw]

+++There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus,
a ruler of the Jews.
He came to Jesus at night and said to him,
"Rabbi,
we know that you are a teacher who has come from God,
for no one can do these signs that you are doing
unless God is with him."
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless one is born from above,
he cannot see the Kingdom of God."
Nicodemus said to him,
"How can a man once grown old be born again?
Surely he cannot reenter his mother's womb and be born
again, can he?"
Jesus answered, unless one is born of water and Spirit
he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
What is born of flesh is flesh
and what is born of spirit is spirit.
Do not be amazed that I told you,
'You must be born from above.'
The wind blows where it wills,
and you can hear the sound it makes,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes;
so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."+++

[No name given]

Amen 🙏🏻!!!!