April 28, 2025

John 3:1-8

In today’s reading, a Pharisee named Nicodemus comes to see Jesus at night (presumably so no one would see him) and tells Jesus he knows he is from God, due to the signs or miracles he is performing. Jesus begins to teach him right away. “No one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”  Nicodemus, using his human way of thinking, asks how an older person can be born again from a woman. Jesus replies that he is speaking not of human flesh, but of being “born of water and Spirit,” that is, baptism and the Holy Spirit. To explain this, he uses the image of the wind, which “blows where it wills.” Although you can hear the wind, you don’t know where it comes from or where it goes.  “So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Spirit is not constrained by the limits of the ordinary world, just as the wind is not limited by things on the ground. Just so, when we are born of Spirit, we are not bound by our previous karmic patterns or the seemingly set path of our lives.  Now we belong to the realm of Spirit, and the more we can recall that and live according to Spirit, the way of love and peace, the more we can change the narrative of our lives. 

This is also true of society at large – through Spirit, we can change the narrative.  Observe how at the funeral of Pope Francis, unexpected conversations emerged that may help with the peace process.  This is the power of Spirit to change the narrative. People of all paths and religions know this through prayer and meditation alike.  Take comfort in the power of Spirit to change the narrative.  Well done. Amen.