Reflection - Birth

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/042919.cfm
Acts 4:23-31
John 3:1-8

We are told that the meeting between Jesus and Nicodemus took place at night. Some commentators suggest that the meeting time was late because Nicodemus was afraid. While he was supposedly afraid of others of his stature, the nature of the fear is not characterized. Upon consideration, I would bet that most would agree that there was little danger that Nicodemus feared being killed, or tortured, or even kicked out of his position as a ‘ruler of the Jews’. It is far more likely that he was afraid of being scorned or laughed at or, maybe, just relegated to the sidelines. So my money is on fear of embarrassment. Nicodemus was afraid that others would discover his association with this newcomer of no power or influence. Still, he came.

Nevertheless, when he opened his mouth in conversation with Jesus it was only to betray his ignorance. He starts off well — "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him." — but his tribute apparently lacked depth. Nicodemus might have had his suspicions about Jesus, but his compliment and subsequent confusion showed a paucity of true understanding. This became clear when Jesus began to teach and found his pupil still in the first grade. Accordingly, Jesus would reveal his own amazement just two lines later: "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand this?” (John 3:10)

What is it we are to understand if we are going to graduate from spiritual elementary school?

Jesus teaching actually starts with fundamentals. “Unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." Then, because of Nicodemus’ ignorance, he has to explain that. “What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit.”

The infant in its mother’s womb has a world unto itself. Lots of benefits: consistently warm, a sense of loving presence, little or no noxious input, and so on. After a while, things may seem a bit cramped; but adjustments are made. Nevertheless, in the larger picture, this idyllic world must be abandoned. It had its purpose for a time; but it was never intended to be more than a period of basic maturation anticipating the world to come. There comes the day when flesh will be born of flesh. The infant must step into a new world which is not nearly as warm or as secure or as welcoming. It must do that or die.

What is born of the Spirit is, at least in some ways, similar. That birth takes place within the confines of this physical world. It requires a surrender of the familiar, the comfortable, the consistent; but it also requires a surrender of the pain and suffering and the anxiety. In fact it offers a return to a warm and loving presence which this world can only simulate. But it also means, as before, stepping into the unknown, for it was never intended to be more than a period of basic maturation anticipating the world to come.

While the unborn makes no conscious decision to grow toward that time of fulfillment when birth into the larger physical world is realized, the newborn must eventually make just such a decision, a conscious decision to be born into and to mature spiritually into the “new man” each was created to be.

In reading the story of Nicodemus meeting with Jesus we are challenged on two levels to be personally accountable. Both may be difficult to answer: Does embarrassment effect my readiness to do what is required to step into and mature in the world of the Spirit to which I was born? Can I say unreservedly, along with Paul: “I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith.” (Romans 1:16)

The second I find to be equally an imperative: What do I do to mature spiritually? What has God asked me to do and how haveI responded?

If the unborn does not mature as is necessary during the time in the womb, it will die. The necessity to mature spiritually during the time we have is of no less importance.