Born Again to Boldness

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate our call to boldness and renewed action to accept the prompting of the Spirit to be visible as followers of Jesus in our environment.

New Life in Community

The Reading from the Book of Acts asserts the Power of Prayer of the Community

* [4:27] Herod: Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee and Perea from 4 B.C. to A.D. 39, who executed John the Baptist and before whom Jesus was arraigned; cf. Lk 23:6–12.

* [4:31] The place…shook: the earthquake is used as a sign of the divine presence in Ex 19:18; Is 6:4. Here the shaking of the building symbolizes God’s favorable response to the prayer. Luke may have had as an additional reason for using the symbol in this sense the fact that it was familiar in the Hellenistic world. Ovid and Virgil also employ it. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

In Psalm 2, God responds vigorously to rebellious kings.

* [Psalm 2] A royal Psalm. To rebellious kings (Ps 2:1–3) God responds vigorously (Ps 2:4–6). A speaker proclaims the divine decree (in the legal adoption language of the day), making the Israelite king the earthly representative of God (Ps 2:7–9) and warning kings to obey (Ps 2:10–11). The Psalm has a messianic meaning for the Church; the New Testament understands it of Christ (Acts 4:25–27; 13:33; Heb 1:5). (Psalms, PSALM 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of John, Jesus instructs Nicodemus about the necessity of a new birth from above.

* [3:1–21] Jesus instructs Nicodemus on the necessity of a new birth from above. This scene in Jerusalem at Passover exemplifies the faith engendered by signs (Jn 2:23). It continues the self-manifestation of Jesus in Jerusalem begun in Jn 2. This is the first of the Johannine discourses, shifting from dialogue to monologue (Jn 3:11–15) to reflection of the evangelist (Jn 3:16–21). The shift from singular through Jn 3:10 to plural in Jn 3:11 may reflect the early church’s controversy with the Jews.

* [3:1] A ruler of the Jews: most likely a member of the Jewish council, the Sanhedrin; see note on Mk 8:31.

* [3:3] Born: see note on Jn 1:13. From above: the Greek adverb anōthen means both “from above” and “again.” Jesus means “from above” (see Jn 3:31) but Nicodemus misunderstands it as “again.” This misunderstanding serves as a springboard for further instruction.

* [3:8] Wind: the Greek word pneuma (as well as the Hebrew rûah) means both “wind” and “spirit.” In the play on the double meaning, “wind” is primary. (John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

David Crawford takes a look at how Nicodemus arrived on the scene.

It is humbling to think how much I can be like Nicodemus. Too often, I show up in prayer, worship, or service on my own schedule, when I find it convenient. Frequently, I self-righteously think my platitudes of praise should please God, especially considering what an upstanding person I am and how many “good” things I do. Many times, my initial response to God speaking – through Scriptures, homilies, prayers, etc. – is to dismiss anything that challenges me to see the world in new ways. …

To recap: Nicodemus arrived a bit arrogantly; and he learned humility. Nicodemus wanted to know if Jesus was worthy enough to merit a relationship; and he discovered that he was the one who was not worthy. Nicodemus showed up likely satisfied with who he had become – a respected leader of the Jewish community, a Pharisee known for piety and knowledge of the Law; and in a short time, Jesus began the transformation of Nicodemus into a person whose words and actions would be more in line with what God wants. We should all be so lucky. (Crawford, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Reborn and Fed by the Spirit,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"And then that rebirth, which brings about the forgiveness of all past sins, takes place in the Holy Spirit, according to the Lord's own words, 'Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, one cannot enter the kingdom of God.' But it is one thing to be born of the Spirit, another to be fed by the Spirit; just as it is one thing to be born of the flesh, which happens when a mother gives birth, and another to be fed from the flesh, which appears when she nurses the baby. We see the child turn to drink with delight from the bosom of her who brought it forth to life. Its life continues to be nourished by the same source which brought it into being." (excerpt from Sermon 71.19) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 3:1-8 comments that in truth, it takes time for us to grow into the people Jesus wants us to become. It’s a gradual process of learning a new way of life, of trying and sometimes failing, of growing and changing, of getting used to hearing God’s voice and receiving the love and grace of his Spirit. But for any of that to happen, we need to keep seeking the Lord. We can’t just wait to absorb our new life. 

St. Ignatius of Loyola is a clear example. Laid up in bed as he recovered from a wound sustained in battle, he realized that thinking about the glory he might achieve as a soldier left him feeling oppressed. But imagining himself imitating the saints lifted his heart and filled him with excitement. He later said that his eyes “were opened a little” to see how fulfilling life in Christ could be. And with that small revelation, Ignatius started to change. He longed to be with the Lord in prayer. He sought forgiveness for his sins. He wanted to spend his life sharing the good news of Christ—and that’s exactly what he ended up doing!

How have your eyes been “opened a little”? What’s the next step you can take to live your new life in the kingdom of God?

“Jesus, open my eyes as you opened St. Ignatius’ eyes!” (Meditation on John 3:1-8, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that, in the Acts passage, Peter and John speak after interrogation by the Jewish authorities about continuing to praise God. The secular powers had no authority over them, as they are guided by the Holy Spirit. This is not as prominent in Luke’s Gospel, but in Acts the Spirit guides the Church. In the Gospel of John, Nicodemus comes to Jesus three times at night in fear, second, defending Him with the Law, and third to bury Jesus. In ancient writing people are what they were but in John’s Gospel we are to continue to grow until we die. Jesus clears up the role of  Baptism, as some were attacking the Sacraments. We have to participate in the Sacraments and we have to accept the Spirit as necessary against our concupiscence or “fleshiness”. Friar Jude declares we have to be born again in the Holy Spirit to allow God to lead us in the direction of love.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, considers how Jesus calls us to be liberated from the agendas of our inflated egos. Scholarship today is discovering a much more radical and demanding Jesus than either Catholicism or Protestantism was ever ready for.

We distorted the message so it wasn’t primarily about a transformation of the ego but freedom from the body self. We largely transferred everybody’s guilt concerns toward the body. We concentrated on repressing and punishing the body, not giving the body too much pleasure, freedom, or delight. It’s not that there aren’t issues there, but the ego, in my opinion, has gotten away scot-free in the Western church. We allowed egos to get out of control while being quite anxious to appear chaste, self-disciplined, and not too greedy. …

Liberation from the ego self is liberation from the world of forms and images. Jesus’s word for that was mammon: “You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). If we’re playing the game of appearance and power, prestige, and possessions, Jesus says we cannot know God. That’s pretty absolute! There’s a correlation between our preoccupation with image and how much—or how little—we’ve experienced the inner life.  

Jesus also liberates us from the ego self by his constant warnings against negativity and oppositional thinking. In general, his word for that liberation is forgiveness. Two thirds of Jesus’s teaching is directly or indirectly about forgiveness. To live oppositionally is to be holding some degree of resentment or unhealed negative energy that we have not brought to the divine presence for transformation.  (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek openness to be “born again” in the life of the Spirit that rejects ego and self aggrandizement and supports acceptance, love, and forgiveness.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved April 13, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/4?23 

Crawford, D. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved April 13, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-april-13-2026 

John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 13, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/3? 

Meditation on John 3:1-8. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved April 13, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/04/13/1542985/ 

Psalms, PSALM 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 13, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/2?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Liberation from the Ego’s Agenda. Retrieved April 13, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/liberation-from-the-egos-agenda/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Unless One Is Born Anew. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 13, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Leaders and Faith

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to seek the deeper connection with the Divine in which faith reassures us of the commitment of God to fullness in our lives.

Faith and Fullness

The reading from the First Book of Samuel describes how Israel’s Request for a King is granted.

* [8:1–22] From this chapter on, the editors of 1 Samuel provide two and sometimes three perspectives on the same event: e.g., the selection of Saul as king is recounted in chap. 8; 10:17–24; chap. 12.

* [8:15] Officials: lit., eunuchs. These high-ranking administrators were not necessarily emasculated.

* [8:22] To your own city: Samuel will later reassemble the people at Mizpah (10:17) to acclaim Saul as their king. (1 Samuel, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 89 praises God’s Covenant with David.

* [Psalm 89] The community laments the defeat of the Davidic king, to whom God promised kingship as enduring as the heavens (Ps 89:2–5). The Psalm narrates how God became king of the divine beings (Ps 89:6–9) and how the Davidic king became king of earthly kings (Ps 89:20–38). Since the defeat of the king calls into question God’s promise, the community ardently prays God to be faithful to the original promise to David (Ps 89:39–52). (1 Samuel, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus Heals a Paralytic.

* [2:1–2] He was at home: to the crowds that gathered in and outside the house Jesus preached the word, i.e., the gospel concerning the nearness of the kingdom and the necessity of repentance and faith (Mk 1:14).

* [2:5] It was the faith of the paralytic and those who carried him that moved Jesus to heal the sick man. Accounts of other miracles of Jesus reveal more and more his emphasis on faith as the requisite for exercising his healing powers (Mk 5:34; 9:23–24; 10:52).

* [2:6] Scribes: trained in oral interpretation of the written law; in Mark’s gospel, adversaries of Jesus, with one exception (Mk 12:28, 34).

* [2:7] He is blaspheming: an accusation made here and repeated during the trial of Jesus (Mk 14:60–64).

* [2:10] But that you may know that the Son of Man…on earth: although Mk 2:8–9 are addressed to the scribes, the sudden interruption of thought and structure in Mk 2:10 seems not addressed to them nor to the paralytic. Moreover, the early public use of the designation “Son of Man” to unbelieving scribes is most unlikely. The most probable explanation is that Mark’s insertion of Mk 2:10 is a commentary addressed to Christians for whom he recalls this miracle and who already accept in faith that Jesus is Messiah and Son of God. (Mark, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Larry Hopp asks “Can we really change?” Can we maintain our focus upon the only true God who loves us so profoundly that He would give us His only Son to save us and bring us into an eternity with God Himself?

 

On our own, the answer is sadly “No”.  But God gives us His holy Word filled with powerful miracles to help us to never forget who God really is -  all powerful, yet loving -  who continues to provide endless encouragements and blessings.  So yes, we can indeed change our propensity to backslide into the world’s ways – but that path is only found through prayer and daily commitment to focusing on the truths found in His Holy Word.

Dear Heavenly Father, in this world, evil is so prevalent.  Help us to keep our hearts and minds forever focused upon you and you alone - to thankfully notice and rejoice over all the blessings that you shower upon us.   Thank you so much for understanding our weaknesses  and providing us with all that we need to be reminded daily of your never-ending love, 
In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen (Hopp, 2024)

Don Schwager quotes “Reverse your relation with sickness,” by Peter Chrysologus (400-450 AD).

"Take up your bed. Carry the very mat that once carried you. Change places, so that what was the proof of your sickness may now give testimony to your soundness. Your bed of pain becomes the sign of healing, its very weight the measure of the strength that has been restored to you." (excerpt from HOMILY 50.6)

[Peter Chrysologus was a renowned preacher and bishop of Ravena in the 5th century] (Schwager, 2017)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 2:1-12 comments on the grace we have access to through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. But there may be times when we lose sight of that grace. Confession can seem like a relatively mundane event. Maybe even a bit routine. We go into the confessional, admit our sins, and say the Act of Contrition. We might start to wonder if anything is really happening.

You may not feel any different when you leave the confessional. But each time, like the man healed from paralysis, you can receive the miracle of freedom from sin and its effects. So take to heart Jesus’ words to you: “Child, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5)!

“Lord, thank you for your great mercy! Help me to never take it for granted.” (Meditation on Mark 2:1-12, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler discusses the demands of the people to Samuel to abandon rule by charismatically selected judges in favour of choosing a king like other nations. Only God can forgive sins is a key proclamation about Jesus as he heals the paralytic in body and relationship to God. Friar Jude reminds us of the example in Mark of responding to the healing work of God with awe and wonder.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, uses images of a lever and a place to stand to explain why social transformation needs both action and contemplation.

Unfortunately, many of us don’t have a fixed place to stand, a fulcrum of critical distance, and thus we cannot find our levers, or true “delivery systems,” as Bill Plotkin calls them [1], by which to move our world. We do not have the steadiness of spiritual practice to keep our sight keen and alive. Those who have plenty of opportunities for spiritual practice—for example, those in monasteries—often don’t have an access point beyond religion itself from which to speak or to serve much of our world. We need a delivery system in the world to provide the capacity for building bridges and connecting the dots of life.

Some degree of inner experience is necessary for true spiritual authority, but we need some form of outer validation, too. We need to be taken seriously as competent and committed individuals and not just “inner” people. Could this perhaps be what Jesus means by being both “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16)? God offers us quiet, contemplative eyes; God also calls us to prophetic and critical involvement in the pain and sufferings of our world—both at the same time. This is so obvious in the life and ministry of Jesus that I wonder why it has not been taught as an essential part of Christianity. (Rohr, 2024)

We may be distracted by the illusion of worldly power as the path to achieving our fullness of life, even as the Spirit stirs our awe and wonder through participation in Jesus' Way.

References

Hopp, L. (2024, January 12). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved January 12, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/011224.html 

Mark, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 12, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/2?1 

Meditation on Mark 2:1-12. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 12, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/01/12/873688/ 

1 Samuel, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 12, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1samuel/8?4 

1 Samuel, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 12, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1samuel/8?4 

Rohr, R. (2024, January 12). A Lever and a Place to Stand — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 12, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-lever-and-a-place-to-stand/ 

Schwager, D. (2017, November 9). We Never Saw Anything like This! Daily Scripture net. Retrieved January 12, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jan12