A reading from the gospel according to John 3:7B-15:

7B Jesus said to Nicodemus: “‘You must be born from above.’
8 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.”
9 Nicodemus answered and said to him, ‘How can this happen?”
10 Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this?
11 Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony.
12 If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?
13 No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.
14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

Reflections:

To be born from above means to be born of the Spirit so that we can be reconnected with heaven, our origin and destiny. It also means to be made aware of our purpose and to work out for its accomplishment. Jesus mentions a life in the Spirit which we cannot see but its effects such as the movement of leaves of trees are visible. We who are born again live not in the flesh but in this Spirit. The effect of the Spirit must have an impact which means others are able to see or perceive it. If not then we are still worldly, not yet born of the Spirit.

Jesus lifted up on the cross is the ultimate sacrifice for our salvation. Looking at Him hanging there must no longer unnerve us but instead make us hopeful that sin and death have been conquered and therefore they have no more power over us. The cross is no longer a source of shame but of pride that we can boast of (Galatians 6:14). By dying on the cross, Jesus made possible for us to have eternal life if only we believe in Him.

Usually, it is difficult for educated people to believe in something they don’t understand, at least logically. Just like Nicodemus, a teacher of the law who can’t comprehend the term “being born again”. So Jesus uses the example of the wind blowing here and there but cannot be perceived where it is going to and coming from. So it is with the Spirit of God.

God says His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8). Many times He cannot be perceived by logic alone but with openness. That is why worldly wisdom is more of a hindrance to faith and people of little education are easier to accept the scripture than those with PhDs. That is why Jesus said the mystery of God is hidden to the wise and educated but is revealed to the little ones (Matthew 11:25). Indeed, it is only with a childlike attitude that we can encounter God.

Jesus is practically telling Nicodemus to lay aside what he already knew and become a baby again, ready to be taught new knowledge that comes only from having faith in the Son of Man. He is inviting Nicodemus and He is inviting all of us to become new beings whose lives are guided and transformed by the Spirit of God.

Let us therefore pray that God may send us His Spirit to renew us, to melt and mold us, and to set us on the path of spiritual awakening. Amen.

You may also watch the video version below.