(Optional Memorial for Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Priest and Martyr)
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| “Visit of Nicodemus to Christ” by John La Farge, 1880 |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Acts 4:23-31
Commentary on Acts 4:23-31
This selection from Acts continues describing the efforts of Peter and John after they return from being threatened by the Sanhedrin for proclaiming Jesus and performing signs in Jesus' name. They sing Psalm 2: 1-3, implying that those in power oppose the true mission of God. The passage concludes with their prayer for strength in continuing their work. The occurrence of an earth tremor is understood to symbolize God’s presence and affirmative response.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 2:1-3, 4-7a, 7b-9
R. (see 11d) Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Commentary on Ps 2:1-3, 4-7a, 7b-9
Psalm 2 is one of the “Royal Psalms.” In this passage we are reminded that God has adopted us as His sons and daughters. The language used is the formal adoption language of the time. The selection focuses on the true ruler of heaven and earth - the Lord, not, as the psalmist points out, worldly kings who do not fear the Most High God. There is an image used in Psalm 149 in which the Lord empowers the people to cast off their fetters, and use them to bind the secular rulers who oppress them (Psalm 149:8). The song sings of their steadfast commitment bring this word to the gentiles, freeing them from their idols. The first strophe is quoted by the Apostles in Acts 4:23ff.
CCC: Ps 2:1-2 600; Ps 2:2 436; Ps 2:6-7 745; Ps 2:7-8 2606; Ps 2:7 441, 653, 2836
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Gospel: John 3:1-8
Commentary on Jn 3:1-8
During the Passover Feast, Jesus instructs Nicodemus on the need to turn away from the world of the flesh, and focus instead on life in the spirit of God. This passage is filled with the images of the Christian baptismal calling: “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” Placed in the Easter season, this can be seen as a reference to the Lord’s resurrection in the spirit. It further points out that the Holy Spirit is himself a mystery that cannot be fully fathomed by human understanding but whose effects are quite apparent.
CCC: Jn 3:2 581; Jn 3:3-5 782; Jn 3:5-8 691, 728, 1287; Jn 3:5 432, 720, 1215, 1225, 1238, 1257, 1262, 2790; Jn 3:7 526, 591
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Reflection:
Even as we turn away from the events immediately following the resurrection, we are pulled back to that blessed night when so many were baptized and joined us in our adoption as “Children of God.” We look closely at the Gospel exchange between Jesus and Nicodemus.
Nicodemus is a member of the Sanhedrin, and one of those “secret disciples” who are afraid to openly follow Jesus. He comes to Jesus at night, perhaps curious, perhaps compelled by something within him. He professes his belief that Jesus is “…a teacher who has come from God,” implying that he has come to learn at Jesus' feet.
Seeing the turmoil within Nicodemus, a man at once drawn to Christ’s holiness, and at the same time afraid of expressing that desire because of the loss of social acceptability that would accompany that expression, Jesus calls him to conversion. He tells him that unless he follows his heart and repents from the things of the world to embrace the spiritual life, he will not find what he seeks. The language used in Jesus' discourse is strikingly similar to St. John the Baptist’s testimony as he baptized the repentant faithful beside the Jordan.
The language makes it clear that Jesus believes Nicodemus must become the “new creation” referenced by Ezekiel 36:24ff. He must relinquish his “stony heart,” and let God replace it with a heart full of the love of God and all that he created. It is only through this rebirth that the Kingdom of God may be achieved.
If St. Peter were there with them, he probably would have asked a question like: “Lord we have already been converted, how many times must we accept you as Lord; seven times? “ And Jesus would answer: “seventy times seven.” Even though we have been baptized, and this can only happen once because once the change is made it may never be undone, we must constantly look to conversion. Our human nature listens to the sweet sounding words of temptation, whispered by the evil one from time to time. The veil of holiness slips and we fall away from the love of God. We all must constantly look to the spiritual rebirth the Lord speaks of as a means of access to his great love.
Today, even as we recall with filial love our brothers and sisters reborn in the baptismal waters of Easter, we recognize our own call to constant conversion. Our prayer today is that we might always recognize this need and respond to God’s call to rebirth.
Pax
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