A reading from the Gospel according to John 3:1-8

1 There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
2 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.”
3 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.”
4 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?”
5 Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
6 What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit.
7 Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘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.”

4/17/2023 (Monday) Today’s gospel reflection: John 3:1-8

As a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews, Nicodemus admires Jesus and His authoritative teachings. Yet he goes to visit Jesus in the night because he was afraid or maybe ashamed to be noticed by his colleagues. We could assume that he was a hesitant seeker. He knows the law but obviously, he cannot comprehend spiritual things. Yet unlike the other Pharisees, he was very respectful of Jesus calling Him a rabbi. In return, we could see that Jesus was very sympathetic with Him as He patiently explains what is necessary to see the Kingdom of God.

Though Nicodemus could see that God is with Jesus because he knows that one cannot do miraculous signs without the presence of God, he could not identify Jesus as the much-awaited Messiah. If he did, he could have said so. For this reason, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. He must first be born again, meaning the Spirit of God must be with him so that he will have a new life. It is only with the Spirit of God that he can have spiritual eyes to see the Kingdom of God.

Just like the wind that we can not see but its presence can be identified by its sound or its impact on the trees, the Spirit of God can be felt but not seen. This means that when we are born of the Spirit, we can feel the difference and others can see its impact. We feel more joyful and peaceful and other people can see it. Otherwise, we are only born of the flesh.

Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will grant us the spiritual eyes to see the Kingdom of God and that others may feel its presence in us. Like Nicodemus, may we continue to seek understanding. Unlike Nicodemus, may we never be afraid or ashamed to meet Jesus.

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“Born of the Spirit: A New Beginning”

In the quiet of night, a man named Nicodemus, a Pharisee and respected leader of the Jews, sought out Jesus. He came not to accuse or debate, but to understand. His heart, though steeped in tradition and law, was stirred by something deeper, an undeniable sense that Jesus was from God. “Rabbi,” he said, “we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

Jesus’ reply was not what Nicodemus expected. “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

These words echo through time and space with enduring power: “Born again.” Not a return to the womb, as Nicodemus skeptically questioned, but a birth of a different kind, that of spirit, not flesh. A beginning that transcends biology and origin. A call to transformation, not just information.

To be born again is to let go of what we were, and open ourselves to what we can become through the Spirit of God. It’s not a command to try harder or be better by our own strength. Rather, it’s an invitation to surrender, to allow the wind of the Spirit to move in us, change us, and lead us.

Jesus explained, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” In other words, what is natural gives rise to what is natural, but what is divine comes only from the Divine. The change Jesus speaks of isn’t something we manufacture. It’s something we receive. Like the wind, it cannot be seen, but its presence is unmistakable.

Have you ever stood outside during a strong wind and felt the way it brushes your skin, lifts your hair, moves the trees, stirs the world around you? That’s how the Spirit moves, unpredictable, powerful, invisible, but undeniably real. When we are born of the Spirit, something within us awakens that we didn’t know was asleep. We begin to see the world differently, not just as it is, but as it could be in God’s hands.

This rebirth is not a one-time emotional experience; it’s the beginning of a lifelong transformation. It’s a deep shift from living according to fear, pride, or performance, to living out of faith, love, and grace. It’s the moment when God doesn’t just surround us but fills us, from the inside out, with purpose, peace, and power.

Nicodemus came to Jesus in darkness, both literally and spiritually. But Jesus, the Light of the World, met him there with truth and hope. That’s the heart of the gospel: God meets us in our confusion, our questions, even in the shadows, and offers us new life. Not a polished version of our old self, but a completely new creation.

So if you feel tired, trapped in old patterns, burdened by your past, or unsure of where to go next, take heart. The Spirit is still moving. You are not beyond renewal. You are not too far gone. The invitation to be born again is still open, still available, still offered freely to all who come.

Let the wind blow where it will. Let the Spirit speak to your heart. Open your life to the possibility that God is not finished with you yet. In fact, He may just be getting started.