Last week, throughout the Easter Octave, we read from each of the four Gospel writers, their accounts of Jesus' resurrection, and Jesus' post-resurrection appearances to his disciples.
For the rest of the Easter Season, we will be reading from the Gospel of John—the discussion with Nicodemus this week from chapter 3, and onto chapter 6—the miracle of the multiplication and the great Bread of Life discourse next week.
It seems a bit strange to read these stories from early in John’s Gospel—from early in the earthly ministry of Jesus—in this season in which celebrate his resurrection. We do so, for one, because we have kind of exhausted the gospel passages of the resurrection accounts.
This too seems kind of strange. After all, as we heard at the end of yesterday’s Gospel, Jesus did many others signs and wonders after his resurrection that were not written down. Why didn’t John write them down? John says, “If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”
Why else in this post-resurrection season do we read pre-resurrection stories and teachings? Likely, it’s because now that we are reborn in baptism we are meant to go back and reflect and unpack the teachings in light of the resurrection event.
In today’s Gospel, Nicodemus could not understand what it meant to be “born again”, in light of Easter, it’s now obvious. Being “born again by water and the spirit” is of course baptism.
Easter begins with renewing our baptismal promises. We are meant to reflect over and over during this season on our baptism. To reconnect with it, to renew our commitment to it. To allow the power of its efficacy to continue to unfold in us.
Baptism isn’t something that just happened in the past and now we are over and done with it. Baptism continues to have an effect throughout our whole life as we are faithful to the promises of baptism.
St. Vincent Ferrer said “Every baptized person should consider that it is in the womb of the Church where he is transformed from a child of Adam to a child of God.” So we have some considering to do? If I have been changed in baptism, if I have been transformed, how do I continue to act like a son of Adam instead of a son of God? How do I continue to act like unfaithful Adam instead of the faithful Christ?
To enter more deeply into understanding your baptism, you might consider rereading the Catechism’s mighty chapter on baptism, the doorway of our salvation. But certainly, allow these Easter weeks to bring you back to the fervor of a newly baptized soul, fervor for doing the will of God, living the life of grace, and spreading the saving Gospel for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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(Petitions adapted from Morning Prayer)
God the Father was glorified in the death and resurrection of his Son. Let us pray to him with confidence.
God the Father bathed the world in splendor when Christ rose again in glory, may our minds be filled with the light of faith.
Through the resurrection of His Son, the Father opened for us the way to eternal life, may we be sustained today in our work with the hope of glory.
Through His risen Son, the Father sent the Holy Spirit into the world, may our hearts be set on fire with spiritual love.
May Jesus Christ, who was crucified to set us free, be the salvation of all those who suffer, particularly those who suffer from physical or mental illness, addiction, and grief.
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