Acts 4:23-31, Psalm 2:1-3. 4-6.7-9,
John 3 :1-8 Full Readings
Being Born Again
Brethren, as soon as the first week of rejoicing at the Resurrection of Jesus is over the Church begins to put before us the great discourses of Jesus (the teaching rather than the happenings) in the Gospel of John. These readings from John will continue right through Paschaltide. Today Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night, praising Jesus as being a great teacher and being with God. Jesus tells him that unless one is born again (in water and Sprit), he or she cannot enter the kingdom of God. It is surely not an accident that the series begins with the response to Jesus from the faithful in the great sacraments of initiation, Baptism (and confirmation) in John 3 and Eucharist which we will read in John 6. Or, to be more exact, the offer of Jesus in these two great sacraments to which the faithful respond.
Are you a born again? This question is common among the Evangelical Churches and it is normally used to challenge the Catholics. However, it is normally used with just a shallow understanding. The answer to this question to all of us is actually Yes because as Jesus says to Nicodemus in today's Gospel, being born again is being born from above which is being born in water and spirit which we as Catholics received at our baptism.
John the Baptist preached the baptism of repentance and baptised using water but foretold the one who was to come as one who would baptise in the spirit. The Spirit makes us children of God, and makes us share in the divinity of the blessed Trinity. It also gives us the courage, strength and understanding to grasp the word of God and to be authentic witnesses to it in word and deed but above all in the way we live.
This is the major aim of the sacraments of Christian initiation (Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation) Today's Gospel focuses mainly on the two. Baptism cleanses us from all sins, both Original sin and actual sins through the power of the Holy Spirit. Confirmation (the receiving of the Holy Spirit) empowers us to be bold in defending the faith even in the midst of difficulties. It is this Spirit that made the Apostles bold and courageous to continue proclaiming and witnessing the word of God in have of persecution as we have seen in the first reading. Actually that's the major importance of sacrament of confirmation. We are expected to witness that faith we receive at baptism till the end.
How do we become the children of God and of his kingdom at Baptism? Firstly, at baptism we die of our sins and at the same time rise with him. In fact one of the church fathers explains this as follows. The three times we are poured water or dipped into water, are the three days Jesus finished in the tomb and the third time when we are raised from water, is when Jesus resurrected. Therefore, dying and rising for us happens at the same time during baptism. Which being born is meant here? It is removing the old self and putting on a new self in Christ and becoming a member of the Kingdom of God.
Secondly, at baptism we become Kings, Priests and Prophets. These characters only belong to Christ and consequently to the children of God, and therefore by baptism we automatically become one of them. What we need is to put them into practice through our words, deeds and the way of life. In this way be like Jesus who holds all these characteristics and even do what he himself did.
However, sometimes we fail and that's why we constantly renew our baptismal promises so that we can be reborn again. Renewal of these promises and aided by the sacrament of reconciliation makes us again to be new in the kingdom of God. Thus should be shown in the way we witness Christ in our lives. We therefore do not need the born again meaning of the Evangelical Churches.
Reflect today on how often do you renew your baptismal promises and be born again, how often do you go for confession and how you have lived your baptismal promises as well as witnessing Christ wholeheartedly. As the people prayed for their religious leaders in the first Reading, I urge you brethren to pray for our priests and religious that as they lead us to the way of salvation, they may be authentic witnesses and that the spirit may always inspire them in God's ways.
Let us pray
That God will send us his Spirit to always guide and always make a new in our journey to righteousness. May he make us authentic witnesses to the word of God and thus being all people to the kingdom of God. May we be blessed forever. Amen
Blessed week.
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