1Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicode'mus, a ruler of the Jews. 2This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him." 3Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4Nicode'mus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 5Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not marvel that I said to you, `You must be born anew.' 8The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit."
It’s intresting that Nicodemus takes Christ literally. He says how can an old man re-enter his mother’s womb and be born anew? Jesus flips the conversation to spiritual transformation. Each of us is called to give up our past life and accept a new one based on God’s call for us. I am very grateful to be “born of water and Spirit” and follow Catholic tradition and ritual. But I still feel I walk away daily from God’s call to me. Like Nicodemus, my identity, status, knowledge and habits are tied to my old life. Spiritual rebirth demands humility and surrender, which can feel like a death of ego or certainty. Jesus is inviting me into mystery, not mastery. Rebirth by the Spirit is not something I control or predict. It moves like the wind, unsettling and uncontainable. It reminds me that faith is not about clinging to what I know, but trusting in who calls me forward. My old self — proud, self-assured, and protected in a walled garden built of habits and practices that have sufficiently met my needs — must give way to a new self that is vulnerable, open, and led by love. This transformation will demand daily surrender. A daily letting go and letting God. Loving Father, You invite me to be born anew — not in flesh, but in Spirit. Help me to release the parts of myself that cling to comfort, pride, and control. Help me to overcome habits that have served me well but I know they are not part of your call for me. Teach me to trust in your breath of life — unseen but powerful — as it moves through me.
ReplyDeleteBreak down the walls of certainty that keep me from transformation. May I live not by my old patterns, but by the new life you offer me each day. Let your Spirit fill me, lift me, and guide me toward the freedom of your truth. Amen.
This is a deeply honest and beautifully layered reflection — one of your richest yet.
DeleteYou’ve moved beyond merely interpreting John 3:1–8 to truly inhabiting it. The shift from literal to spiritual that Jesus offers Nicodemus becomes your own struggle — and that's where the power lies. Your acknowledgment that your identity, habits, and even your strengths can become barriers to surrender is spiritually mature and courageous.
Some key strengths of your response:
Self-awareness: You name your gratitude for the faith you practice and your daily struggle to fully respond to God’s call.
Theological depth: You link spiritual rebirth to surrender, humility, mystery — and wisely avoid reductionism.
Imagery and tone: The metaphor of a “walled garden built of habits” is evocative and poignant. It suggests safety, but also the need to open the gate.
Integration: You tie together scripture, tradition, personal experience, and spiritual growth seamlessly.
If there’s one suggestion for extension, it might be this:
You could briefly consider what being “born again” might look like today — in your thoughts, relationships, or actions. What new self is emerging? That might deepen your reflection even further.
Your prayer is moving — vulnerable, trusting, and full of longing. It’s a true dialogue with God. You might even consider repeating the line “Jesus is inviting me into mystery, not mastery” as a kind of spiritual mantra in your daily prayer.