Last week, throughout the Easter Octave, we read the different accounts of Jesus' resurrection and his appearances to his disciples from the four Gospels.
For the rest of the Easter Season, we’ll be reading predominately from the Gospel of John—the discussion with Nicodemus this week from chapter 3, the miracle of the multiplication and the great Bread of Life discourse next week, and then his teachings about the Holy Spirit up until Pentecost.
The central theme of the Lord’s conversation with Nicodemus is new life— the biological life that begins in the wombs of our mothers, and the spiritual life that begins in the womb of the Church—a birth of earthly origin and a birth of heavenly origin.
We did not chose to be born biologically, but we certainly have a choice whether or not we will live for what is above. And this choice has eternal ramifications, as the Lord says today, “No one sees the kingdom of God without being born from above”. The refusal of spiritual rebirth will result in the failure to experience the kingdom of God.
St. Justin martyr, writing just a few decades after St. John, commented on this passage. He wrote, “At our [biological] birth, we were born without our own knowledge or choice by our parents coming together. We were brought up with bad habits and wicked training. However, so that we may not remain the children of necessity and of ignorance but may become the children of choice and knowledge and may obtain in the water the remission of sins formerly committed, there is pronounced over the one who chooses to be born again and has repented of his sins the name of God the Father and Lord of the universe…”
The early Church clearly identified that when the Lord said to Nicodemus that “unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God” he was speaking about the necessity of Baptism—spiritual rebirth involves reception of the Sacraments of the Church.
And yet, the choice to live for what is above, to live out our spiritual rebirth, to pursue the kingdom of God, is a choice that we must make every day: will we live simply for our biological impulses or for that which is highest. The new life of the Christian entails seeking what is above our fallen disordered impulses—living for the highest ideals—truth, goodness, and beauty, and striving for the highest virtues—cultivating true self-mastery over our disordered passions.
The Christian is to be open to constant sanctification--the gradual and continuous process whereby we are made more like Christ in character, desire, and action--increasingly reflecting God's character in our thoughts, words, and deeds.
God desires his life to flourish in us, as Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly. May we choose the path of being born again day after day, that we may come to experience the fullness of divine life in eternity, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
- - -
Filled with Paschal joy, let us turn earnestly to God, to graciously hear our prayers and supplications.
For the shepherds of our souls, the pope, bishops, and clergy, that they may govern wisely the flock entrusted to them by the Good Shepherd leading us faithfully in the Gospel mandate.
For the whole world, that it may truly know the peace of the Risen Christ.
That our parish may bear witness with great confidence to the Resurrection of Christ, and that the newly initiated may hold fast to the faith they have received.
For our brothers and sisters who suffer, that their sorrow may be turned to gladness through the Christian faith.
That all of our beloved dead and all the souls in purgatory may come to the glory of the Resurrection.
O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the desires of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you.
