First Reading: Acts 4:23-31
Gospel: John 3:1-8
Today the Church invites us, as baptised people, to reflect on
our life in the Spirit. It presents to us the testimony of Peter and John, who
were arrested for healing a cripple (Acts 3:6) and for being witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. In their
prayer (Acts 4:26) they reveal a prophecy
of human rebellion that was given through David and fulfilled in Christ
that; the rulers gather together against the Lord and against the Annointed one.
In the gospel we hear of such rebellion against God. Nicodimus, a ruler of the
Jews, leaves his office to come by himself to make an inquiry on Jesus because
previously this man, Jesus, had beaten people in the temple and was also seen
in the neighbourhood performing extraordinary miracles, attracting the
attention of the crowd (John 2:13-25). This is what gave Nicodimus the
curiosity to personally encounter Jesus that he may get proof of his authority.
His role as a member of the Sanhedrin was to govern and teach
the people the Law of God. The Jewish people had taken God’s Law and used it as
a means of salvation. They thought they could access God by being good Jews.
But Jesus, through Nicodemus, is now telling them that it was a dead and hopeless system. So,
probably that is why John is presenting the Nicodemus episode in a night mode,
not to refer to private personal consultation but to theologically show the
transition from darkness to light. Jesus is the true light which enlightens
everyone and all those who believe in him became children of God (cf. John
1:8-13, Veritatis Splendor 1).
The problem with Nicodemus is that he is coming to Jesus with
a preoccupied mind to the extent that he could not see things beyond what material is. He fixes his attention on signs, derailing himself from accessing the
truth. Jesus knows Nicodemus’ heart, He knows what his view of salvation is.
So, he doesn't bother to give him the signs but rather takes his time in giving
him the new perspective on what was important in attaining eternal life.
Ultimately, at least
two lessons can be drawn from the encounter of Jesus and Nicodemus, one practical, another spiritual.
Practically; no matter how convinced we are with our knowledge and faith, we
need to open ourselves for consultation, just like Nicodemus. In that way we
update and validate our faith and knowledge. The world presents us with
different hypotheses and theories that challenge our faith, we need to make
effort to verify them from an informed faith perspective. By doing so we become
less rebellious but more open to the truth that God reveals in various ways.
Spiritually; Nicodemus represents an empirical world that demands signs or
evidence of the authenticity of our faith. We should never live to prove our
faith, our connection with God is a spiritual connection not a material one.
Let us pray that, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we
may remain alive in the life of the Spirit.
George Chidyamatondo
II Year Theology
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