John 3:7b-15

Acts 4:32-37

Psalm 93:1ab, 1cd-2, 5

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.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I have been spiritually reborn through the waters of Baptism as your adopted child. I have been regenerated and recreated in the image of your Son, Jesus Christ. I desire to be a faithful child who seeks to please you in all that I do.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Spiritual Rebirth: In his conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus refers to several important symbols: the symbol of water, the need for rebirth, the mysterious Spirit of God, and the Old Testament story of Moses lifting up the bronze serpent in the desert (Numbers 21:4-9). By evoking these symbols, Jesus reveals to Nicodemus how to enter into the Kingdom of God. The Old Covenant people were incorporated into the family of Abraham through the rite of circumcision. The New Covenant people are incorporated into the family of God through the rite of Baptism. Baptism is the gateway to the kingdom and to eternal life. The people of the Old Covenant were saved from the deadly bite of the seraph serpents by looking with faith at the bronze serpent Moses mounted on a pole. The people of the New Covenant are saved from the deadly bite of Satan, the ancient serpent, by turning with faith to the Crucified and Risen Jesus.

2. The Lifting Up of the Son of Man: Jesus reveals to Nicodemus that he will be lifted up. This can refer to any of the three times Jesus was lifted up. He was lifted up on the Cross when he was crucified. He was lifted up from the dead on the day of his Resurrection. And he was lifted up to heaven on the day of his Ascension. Jesus connects his being lifted up to the bestowal of eternal life on those who believe. As believers, we share in Christ’s death and resurrection through our Baptism. This is because our baptism is both a dying with Christ and a rising with him to glory. We lose our old life of sin and receive the gift of grace, the beginning of eternal life. Through Baptism, we become members of the Church, the Body of Christ.

3. Barnabas: The First Reading gives us an example of the communal life of the early Church. Barnabas sold a piece of property and gave the money to the Church. His name means “son of encouragement” and he will accompany us throughout our reading of the Acts of the Apostles this Easter. He vouched for Saul before the community of Jerusalem (Acts 9:27) and spent a year with Paul in Tarsus, where he was known as a prophet and a teacher (Acts 13:1). He accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey to Cyprus (his native land) and parts of modern-day Turkey. He participated in the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) which decided that the Gentiles who became Christians did not need to observe many elements of the burdensome Old Law. Salvation comes from faith in Jesus and living according to the New Law of Christ. Barnabas, who was not one of the original twelve apostles, joined the Apostles in their mission of bearing witness to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Today’s reading shows us that Barnabas followed the counsel of Jesus to the young man: “Go, sell what you own and give the money to the poor; then, come, follow me” (Mark 10:21). Because of the generosity of the members of the early Church, there was no needy person among them.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I contemplate today the revelation of your passion and resurrection to Nicodemus and the revelation of the mystery of Baptism. You have revealed heavenly things and I welcome them in faith. I believe you are the Son of Man, lifted up, so that I may enjoy eternal life with you.

Living the Word of God: When was the last time I appreciated the great sacrament of Baptism? Do I celebrate the day of my spiritual rebirth? Do I celebrate the day my children and spouse were reborn? How should I celebrate? How can I thank God today for this marvelous gift of divine life?