Reflection for Tuesday April 29 Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church (M): John 3:7b-15

Gospel: John 3:7b-15

Jesus said to Nicodemus: “‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to him, ‘How can this happen?” Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this?  

Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

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Reflection:

Who is Nicodemus and how does his situation relate to us?

He is a Pharisee, a secret but faithful follower of Jesus. He visited Jesus during the night (John 3:1–21). Nicodemus also appeared after the Crucifixion of Jesus to provide the embalming ingredients for His body. He assisted Joseph of Arimathea in preparing the body of Jesus (John 19:39–42).

Like Nicodemus, we too must become faithful followers of Jesus—followers who are averse to sin, followers in words and in deeds, and followers who will stay with Jesus no matter how strong the temptation to betray Him.

We should aspire to become modern-day Nicodemuses who will support Jesus, work for Jesus, and do things for Jesus even outside the glare of lights. For this is the challenge before us who are followers of the Lord.

But are we really His true followers?

Or are we followers only in good times, but when the testing of our faith comes, we easily betray Jesus in favor of the many sinful enticements of this world? Like Nicodemus, are we also followers who are ever ready to leave behind everything for Jesus?

Leaving everything behind means leaving everything that made us sin. – Marino J. Dasmarinas