“WALK DAILY WITH JESUS”, 14/04/26, (Tuesday, 2nd Week of Easter in Year A).

LCOLLECT: “ENABLE US, WE PRAY, ALMIGHTY GOD, TO PROCLAIM THE POWER OF THE RISEN LORD, THAT WE, WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE PLEDGE OF HIS GIFT, MAY COME TO POSSESS ALL HE GIVES WHEN IT IS FULLY REVEALED. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”

Acts 4:32-37; Ps 92:1-2,5 and Jn 3:7b-15.

The statement that “You must be born from above” is commonly used as “one must be born again”. This is very often interpreted in line with living an ‘external’ saintly or spiritual life which sometimes has no ‘internal’ connection with the person’s life. Sometimes the statement is also wrongly conceived to mean that when one is born again one must know the scriptures off hand or “by heart” (knowing the Bible for that matter and the ability to quote verse upon verse), as well as always carrying the Bible in one’s hands or armpits around every time and everywhere.

It is very important to note that knowledge is not salvation such that someone may say that because he/she is knowledgeable especially in scripture, then he/she is saved. One can claim to have knowledge or to be knowledgeable regarding the scriptures and the person is able to quote scriptures verbatim, but without understanding the God whom the scriptures reveal and the salvation he offers, there will be question marks in the person’s belief. Holiness is not only about external piety, where one can follow one’s religious rules and obligations without any corresponding interior holiness or piety.

The above is exactly what is contained in the portion of John’s gospel we reflect on today (Jn 3:7b-15), Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a renowned Jewish teacher of the Old Testament. He knew the OT scriptures very well but he probably did not understand what the scriptures said (the OT prophecies) about the Messiah.

It is common knowledge that sometimes some people claim they are born again from above but they do not believe in God. This is sometimes clear in the way they speak and act. The early Christians received a second birth from above when the Lord appeared to them after his resurrection and spoke to them. They were born again. They took his words to heart and they gave evidence to their belief by the way they lived and did things. They held everything together, they had one mind and no one claimed that any possession was his/her own. They had everything in common (Cf. Acts 4:32-37). They lived in love, unity and peace. A life of sharing, just as Jesus came and shared his dear life with us for our salvation. This type of lifestyle which the early Christians lived showed that they were born again from above. What in my life, will I also use as a reference to tell others that I am born again?

Once I encounter Christ, the Risen Lord and experience him as my personal Lord and Saviour, I should be born again from above and my lifestyle and behaviour should be different from that of one who has not had the Christ-experience. The ‘born again from above’ experience should let us have one mind in our families, workplaces and in our communities, and not divided minds. We should do things together for ‘united we stand, divided we stumble’. When we are truly born again, greed should be alien to us, and selfishness and destructive tendencies should be thrown far away from us, making way for consideration, kindness, support, encouragement and generosity to be some of our rules and obligations of life and actions. May the Holy Spirit guide, lead and enlighten us to truly understand what it means to be born again from above, so that we can live and behave as such when we have the Christ-experience and encounter in our lives Stay blessed.

WE MEDITATE TODAY, TUESDAY, ON THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN, THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR, THE CROWNING WITH THORNS, THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS AND THE CRUCIFIXION’ (WE PRAY FOR SORROW FOR SIN, PURITY, COURAGE, PATIENCE, AND PERSEVERANCE) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and the hour of our death, Amen”.

PRAYER: “HEAR, O LORD, OUR PRAYERS, THAT THIS MOST HOLY EXCHANGE, BY WHICH YOU HAVE REDEEMED US, MAY BRING YOUR HELP IN THIS PRESENT LIFE AND ENSURE FOR US ETERNAL GLADNESS. AMEN”.

Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com