Reflection for Monday of the 2nd Week of Easter
(Acts 4:23-31; Jn 3:1-8)
The
Pharisees were known for their double standards. They were virtually jealous of
Jesus and opposed Him at every given opportunity. Surprisingly, one of the
leading men among the Pharisees visited Jesus secretly. His camouflage and
stealth movement towards Jesus is true to their way of life. What is Nicodemus
looking for? It is obvious a life of hypocrisy cannot satisfy.
“This
man came to Jesus by night.” Whatever made him to look for Jesus at such dark
hour must be very important to him. He took the risk to find Jesus! Imagine the
loneliness and silence of the moment as he tiptoed along the way... ‘Have you
seen Him whom my soul loves’ (Cf. Song 3:4). The empty glamour of hypocrisy
exposed Nicodemus within the hidden darkness of the night! So he risked his
status and life to escape the pain of ‘nothingness’—the burden of hypocrisy.
He
came in darkness to meet Jesus who is the Light! The prophecy of Simeon came to
bare: that the secret thoughts of many may be revealed (Lk 2:35). Nicodemus
confessed their hypocrisy, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from
God.” (Why then were you Pharisees opposing Him and accusing of blasphemy?)
Jesus’ response was even more surprising...He was not interested in accusing
Nicodemus or making him feel guilty, but He humbly and lovingly dispelled the ‘darkness’
he came with, opening to him the pathway to the Kingdom of God. “Truly, truly I
say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
Hypocrisy
does not target Heaven but it aims to protect a false self-ego. The world often
create avenues that encourage us to be hypocritical: to package our outlook, to
be politically correct, to adapt accent and be fluent in speech, to project religiosity
and moral perfection, etc. It is unnecessary pain to carry a false self. Nicodemus
got tired of denying Jesus, and sought Him out in the night. In the mist of the
darkness of our lives, we can still find Jesus... Actually, it was the beauty
of Jesus that drew him close. Through Nicodemus Jesus revealed more about
Himself and the way to Heaven.
Our
lives will be ready grounds for all forms of hypocrisy if our words and actions
do not project that Jesus is the Christ. “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You
must be born again.’”
Fr
Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Ss
Peter & Paul Catholic Church
Tedi,
Lagos.
Monday,
April 29, 2019.
