“You must be Born anew”
Meditation
for Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter
(Acts 4:32-37; Jn 3:7-15)
What is the implication of the Resurrection for those who
believe? This is demonstrated in the life of the early Church as given in the
first reading of today, and the discussion of Jesus and Nicodemus. In the
resurrection, human life is glorified and endowed with divine qualities. The
resurrected Jesus passed through closed doors as divine, and ate food as human.
A new experience of life dawned at Easter. And those who believed in the
Resurrection of Jesus are expected to live out this new life.
The first reading tells us how the early believers were
united in one heart and soul, and owned everything in common. With this, they
conquered poverty and hunger. Interestingly, not everyone brought in something,
but they owned and shared all they had equally. Think about the depth of human
selfishness, greed and envy! These natural forces hold us bound like the tombstone
that covers the grave. But faith in the resurrection was able to transplant the
believers into a principle of life that was uncommon, uneconomical, and unimaginable
to the human mind. Still, it solved the age-long problem that the greatest
economies of the world have not been able to solve, that is, poverty and
hunger. So, we must consider the principle of life of the resurrection as we
plan to build up wealth and status. This principle is that whatever I own must
not be mine alone to consume, but it is equally ‘owned’ by others!
This kind of mindset is like going against the current, for
the human mind is selfish by default. Hence, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “You must
be born anew.” This means to be born of the Holy Spirit. It is allowing ourselves
to be drawn up to Jesus in faith. It is like ascending to heaven while still on
earth! To be ‘born anew’ can be described as allowing our faith and hope in Jesus
to become our REASON for living, and to express this life with love and
charity. Baptism guarantees us access to this new life in Christ Jesus.
This new life in the resurrection derives its ultimate joy
and relevance in Christ alone. “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of
the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil 3:8). This is the
new reasoning of Easter people; a new way of life that brings unity, and conquers
poverty and hunger. Amen.
Fr Jude C. Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Tuesday April 26, 2022.
