Reflection
In today’s Gospel, Jesus continues his conversation with Nicodemus. Yesterday, Jesus used the metaphor of rebirth to teach him, and us, about the power of Baptism. Today, Jesus teaches us about the Resurrection and the Holy Spirit as our path to eternal life. Jesus uses the form of riddles frequently in John’s Gospel; this conversation with Nicodemus gives us two examples.
Jesus introduces a new riddle about the Holy Spirit. The Hebrew word for spirit, “ruah,” also meant “wind” and “breath.” Jesus points Nicodemus to the opening lines of the Bible, which speak about the “ruah” of God hovering over the waters (Genesis 1:2). Just as the wind is seemingly arbitrary and blows sometimes from the west, sometimes from the south, and sometimes from the north, so also the Holy Spirit directs those in whom he dwells. What Jesus taught Nicodemus was the need for a person reborn in the Spirit to be docile to the motions of that same Spirit. Sometimes the Spirit will move a person this way and sometimes that way.
Like Nicodemus, it is often difficult for us to be docile and stay open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. We make plans based on our status and vocation in life and charge ahead on a seemingly straight path to achieve our dreams and desires. When life gives us an unexpected change and things don’t proceed as planned or even puts an end to a given plan or goal, how we react indicates our level of docility to the Holy Spirit.
If we react with anger, defiance or despair, we get stuck thinking that our plans and goals are the only path to happiness. This leads us to question why God isn’t cooperating with us? This is the time when we need our Lord the most! But if we are centered on serving the Lord, the changes and temporary difficulties we face in life will not lead us to turn away from the Lord, but to grow closer to Him. The Holy Spirit can guide us down many paths, our faith allows us to accept and embrace the changes that may result.
Ultimately, as the Son of Man was lifted up, we too will be lifted up to eternal life with our Savior, if only we believe and trust in Him.
Today’s Question for Prayer and Reflection
How can I thank God today for this marvelous gift of divine life?
Source of today’s reflection: https://epriest.com/reflections/view/3048