April 12, 2021 Reflection – To be born from above…
To be born from above… April 12, 2021 Dear Family of Mary! Filled with the joy of Divine Mercy, we now enter into the Easter Season, with our eyes on the Ascension of the Lord and Pentecost. So many graces are approaching!! Today we read the Gospel of John Chapter 3: 1-8, in which Jesus teaches Nicodemus about the Kingdom of God and being “Born from above!” Jesus speaks to each of us in this Gospel: 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. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit. 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.” (John 3:1-8) Of course this conversation was an enigma for poor Nicodemus. It wasn’t until Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit fell upon the Apostles, that Jesus’ words began to make sense. But Jesus knew that He had to prepare the Apostles and disciples for that day. We all need to be born again, born anew in Jesus’ Spirit. Our Lady encouraged us to look for this new birth in this message: June 2, 2010 “Dear Children; Today I call you with prayer and fasting to clear the path in which my Son will enter into your hearts. Accept me as a mother and a messenger of God’s love and His desire for your salvation. Free yourself of everything from the past which burdens you, that gives you a sense of guilt, that which previously led you astray in error and darkness. Accept the light. Be born anew in the righteousness of my Son. Thank you.” Jesus desires to give us new birth in the Spirit. We cannot understand Him without the Holy Spirit opening our minds to the things from above. Let’s get used to the fact that our earthly logic is not enough, and let Mary, our Mother, open our hearts to the things from above! To do this, we must do as she tells us: Clear the path for Jesus to enter our hearts, accept Our Lady as our mother and a messenger from God, repent of all sins, let go of all habits of sin, and accept the light of Christ. Then, on Pentecost we will be ready for our new birth!! In Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Cathy Nolan ©Mary TV 2021