New Birth, the Fruit of Personal Experience of the Risen Christ

 

Reflection on Today's Readings, Tuesday of 2nd Week of Easter, April 13th, 2021
Texts: 4:32-37; Ps. 93:1-2.5; John 3:7b-15
Today's first reading impresses on our minds what the faith in the risen Christ engenders, which is unity. The community of those who believed in the risen Christ was in one accord. What sustains the unity was their commitment to the interests of the community and their self-sacrifice. The description of the community shows that individuals were able to satisfy and secure their needs within the community. It is said, "There was not any one needy among them, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet; and distribution was made to each as any had need." This means that for a community to earn the commitment and self-sacrifice of the people, individual must be able to find sense of fulfilment and security in the community. Another value that sustains the oneness of a community or organisation is sincerity; every member must be sincere and true on their dealings. Wherever sincerity and truth prevail, they will be of one heart and soul. This is clear in the life of Barnabas. It is said of him thus: "Thus Joseph who was surnamed by the apostles Barnabas (which means, Son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field which belonged to him, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet." We are to learn, today, from the early Christians the  values of self-sacrifice, solidarity, sincerity and truth. We are to be self-sacrificing, sincere, true and solidarity oriented. If we truly believe in the risen Christ, all the values will be abound in us.
Today's gospel reading reminds us that bearing witness effectively to the risen Christ requires personal experience of the risen Christ. Hence, Jesus Christ says, "Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen". We are born anew when we experience the risen Christ. We experience the risen Christ when we receive the testimony of Jesus Christ and those who had experienced Him.  Nicodemus, though a teacher, was yet to be born anew because he was yet to receive the testimony of Jesus Christ. Hence Jesus said to him, "but you do not receive our testimony." The testimony of Jesus Christ and those He had made witnesses of His resurrection are found in the scriptures. Their words of testimony become the means through which we encounter the risen Christ and made witnesses of His resurrection. We cannot be born anew, if we have not experienced the risen Christ; it is by experiencing the risen Christ that we are born anew. Therefore, let us take seriously the words of testimony  in the scriptures. Christ has risen and He lives forever.

God our Father, give us the grace to set aside our differences and so work for the unity of the body of your Son, our Lord Jesus.  Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke