There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
He came to Jesus at night and said to him,
“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing
unless God is with him.”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus said to him,
“How can a man once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?” Jesus answered,
“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
Do not be amazed that I told you,
‘You must be born from above.’
The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes;
so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Ipinanganak sa Espiritu.
Juan 3:1-8
1May isang lalaki sa mga Fariseo na ang pangalan ay Nicodemo. Siya ay isang pinuno ng mga Judio. 2Pumunta siya kay Jesus nang gabi at sinasabi niya: Guro, alam namin na ikaw ay isang guro na mula sa Diyos. Ito ay sapagkat walang makakagawa ng mga tanda na iyong ginagawa malibang sumasakaniya ang Diyos.
3Tumugon si Jesus at sinabi sa kaniya: Katotohanan, katotohanang sinasabi ko sa iyo: Malibang ipanganak na muli ang isang tao, hindi niya maaaring makita ang paghahari ng Diyos.
4Itinanong ni Nicodemo sa kaniya: Papaano maipanganganak ang taong matanda na? Makakapasok ba siyang muli sa sinapupunan ng kaniyang ina at ipanganak?
5Sumagot si Jesus: Katotohanan, katotohanang sinasabi ko sa iyo: Malibang ang isang tao ay ipanganak ng tubig at ng Espiritu hindi siya makakapasok sa paghahari ng Diyos. 6Ang ipinanganak sa laman ay laman at ang ipinanganak sa Espiritu ay espiritu. 7Huwag kang magtaka sa sinabi ko sa iyo, kinakailangang ipanganak kang muli.8Ang hangin ay umiihip kung saan nito ibig. Naririnig mo ang ugong nito ngunit hindi mo alam kung saan ito nanggagaling at kung saan pupunta. Gayon ang bawat ipinanganak sa Espiritu.
1 comment:
Without being born from above. Nicodemus misunderstands Jesus' statement on the necessity of being born from above as of being born again. This misunderstanding may perhaps explain the continued disagreement between Catholics and “Born Again” Christians. One should continue to read not just verse 3, to fully understand what Jesus really meant. No one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the spirit. I would understand that Jesus meant both the waters of John the Baptist and the Spirit he promised. And we, Catholics, are born again and from above in the sacraments of baptism and confirmation, where we receive both waters and the Spirit.
As with Thomas, Nicodemus does not insist on his unbelief but believes. The problem with many different religions is not faith but insistence on their understanding of faith. Rigidity and inclusivity will not allow the wind to blow where it wills.
Pray for peace among religions.
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2011
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