Born From Above

28 Apr

“Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless one is born of water and Spirit
he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
What is born of flesh is flesh
and what is born of spirit is spirit.”  (Jn 3:5-6)

Jesus and Nicodemus had quite the conversation in today’s Gospel.  Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews, had a hard time understanding what Jesus meant when He said that it was necessary to be born from above in order to see the Kingdom of God.

Nicodemus took the word “born” in the very literal sense and questioned how anybody could be born again.

Jesus insisted that unless that new birth took place, one would remain entrenched in the ways — and the sin — of the world.

As we all know, that is oh, so true.

We were given the chance to be born again by virtue of our baptism and by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at confirmation.  The waters of rebirth and the gifts of the Holy Spirit enervate us to become God’s sons and daughters.

The waters of rebirth are something that we celebrate in a special way throughout the season of Easter.  Yesterday, Mercy Sunday, we finished our celebration of the Octave of Easter.  Today, we continue on in the Easter season, a season that lasts until we celebrate Pentecost.

Mindful of the waters of rebirth, we give thanks to God for making us His children.

FAITH ACTION:  As you take time to pray today, renew your baptismal promises, thanking God for the chance to be born from above.