Many of us may be familiar with the story of Nicodemus. (John
3:1-17) The prominent Jewish leader who comes to Jesus at night. Nicodemus,
like many religious people of his day, is all in his own head. He likely has the
Jewish law practically memorized, goes to temple every chance he gets, and
knows all the small nuances to what it means to be a follower of God. And then
he hears about Jesus. A man he knows is from God because he cannot deny the
miracles he is doing. But when he finally meets Jesus, Jesus doesn’t say what
Nicodemus expects. Instead Jesus seems to be speaking in riddles about water
and being born again. What Jesus is saying doesn’t seem helpful to Nicodemus.
But there is no denying Jesus is from God. So, Nicodemus walks away with lots
to think about.
So, what was Jesus trying to tell Nicodemus that was so
important? Well he seems to be saying that being with God is not about
following a set of strict rules, but rather about changing our understanding of
the nature of our existence in this world. He is saying that we need to see the
world differently. We need to change our prospective of our reality. We need to
change the narrative we have been telling ourselves. And when we make that
shift in our thinking we enter a whole new world with a whole new outlook on
life. We suddenly find ourselves with a new set of values, a new prospective,
new goals, and new measures of success. It is as if we are born into some new
type of existence.
In this new way of existing we no longer live for selfish
desires like, fame or our riches. Instead we begin living our lives with the
sole purpose of living out God’s will, no matter what the call. And in that
change we find the greatest freedom we could ever imagine.
One saint who exemplifies this type of vision for the world
is St. Patrick. The son of well to do Roman citizens living in England who was
kidnapped as a child and forced to live in slavery in Ireland. After Patrick
escapes he could easily have returned home, enjoyed the wealth of his family,
plotted his revenge, and enacted it by dealing a lethal strike on his captors.
But instead Patrick chose to follow the way of Christ. He chose to embrace a
faith that had sustained him during the suffering of his captivity.
One can holy guess how he survived; how he remained
resilient during this time. Perhaps he was able to recall such stories from
scripture where people had survived this type of pain. Stories like Joseph who
was betrayed and sold into slavery by his own brothers. Or Daniel who was
tossed into the lion’s den by his slave holders.
However he did it, it is obvious that Patrick saw the world
differently that most would. Patrick saw his captors not as an evil that needed
to be purged, but rather Patrick, being reborn by water and the Spirit sees
them with love, pity, and with a longing to see the image of God in them
restored to that it was created to be. He sees them not as the object of his
hatred, but as children of God.
My friends, that is how we should also see the world. When
difficulties enter our live we need to cling to the promise of God by faith. We
need to embrace living in this new reality where humiliation just increases our
humility. Where suffering brings us closer to the sufferings of Jesus. Where we
cannot be threatened because death itself has no power in our lives. Where
money and fame and popularity are no longer our selfish ambitions and therefore
have no control over us. Rather our "light yoke" is one of generosity
and compassion and self-abasement.
My friends, we have been born by water and the spirt in our
baptism, perhaps then we ought to think about what that really means, and
embrace a reality that is our inheritance as a member of God's family. We need
to embrace a spiritual and godly reality in this life that is nurturing to our
soul. We need to embrace a way that brings peace and joy and love to us and to
all those who enter our life. As we embrace this new life giving reality, we
also ought to tell other people about this new way of living. Tell them what it
is to be reborn be water and the spirit, so that all of God’s children can enjoy
the peace of living in His kingdom.
