We Have the Same Needs as Nicodemus

In Chapter 3 of John’s Gospel, we encounter Nicodemus, a religious man who was very interested in the ‘things of God.’ Nicodemus comes to Jesus, recognizing him as Master and seeking instruction. More so than new learning though, I think Nicodemus sought a change in himself and, thus, a new life. Even though he was a Jew with experience and wisdom, he recognized his need and that’s why he came to the Master.

I’d like you, in this moment, reading these lines, to try to identify with Nicodemus as I am.  When hearing Jesus’ answer, “In truth I tell you that nobody can see God’s Kingdom unless they are born again from above,” (John 3:3) we know that it’s not possible for the body (the flesh) to be born again, but for the spirit it’s truly possible, and it is here where we should focus.

How can I be born again? How can my spirit, which acts in the depths of my soul, and is not superficial, be renovated?  We can do a lot of external changes, but the true exercise consists in getting ready for a rebirth from within. In order to bring this about, the Lord proposes that we come to Him with a willing, contrite, humble and hopeful heart.  United with the most holy Mary, the angels, and the saints we are then encouraged to pray to the Holy Spirit to descend and shed His Light upon us.  With His help, we can thoroughly review everything we have done in life, taking care not to do this superficially, but, in contrast, to go to the depths of our soul so that we may start discovering and eliminating anything that does not belong to God.  

As we do this deep dive, we will probably encounter incomplete confessions from our past; sins omitted due to guilt, shame, rancor, pride, lack of love, poor justice, fears, hatred, attachment to material goods, selfishness, or even loss of hope. With these obstacles we will not be able to be renewed.  Since by our own strength we will not achieve this cleansing of ourselves, it’s necessary to pray and ask God that the Holy Spirit give us the necessary graces to accomplish this. It’s fundamental that we do not skip this step, since, if we attempt it alone, our strengths will falter and we will tire until we give up. God is the One who cleanses, liberates, and heals us; He is the One who can do it all, sanctify it all, and perfect it all.

Our best role model is Mary, most holy, because she allowed the Word and the strength of the Spirit to work plentifully through her. Mary created a vessel within herself to allow herself to be filled with God. She was never attached to anything else.  What about us? To what are we attached? Is it perhaps prestige, economic success, or sociocultural patterns that give us security in this world?

I think what the Lord asked of Nicodemus was to distance himself from all his false securities so that he could empty himself fully; to stop doing things in his old ways and by his own means… to let God do His work in him and through him. I now understand that there is no other manner or formula which allows us to be reborn and transform our lives from the bottom to accomplish living in truth like children of God.

Let’s implore upon God that through the strength of the Holy Spirit, all our mistakes will be shown to us with clarity; that we will be helped in releasing them until we become empty so that we may be filled up with God. I recognize it will not be easy to find ourselves in the midst of so much sin, but the Lord will give us the grace and then the Word will be fulfilled in us to be “reborn from above” so that we may see the Kingdom of God.