A Sunday Night Meditation

Grace and greetings.

John 3.1-17

Jesus and Nicodemus are have a discussion; one that we get to hear from the outside, and watch as they start in the room of the house. They are talking about relationships to God and One another. Nicodemus is wanting to understand, but has trouble trying to figure out what Jesus is saying. Being born again, of the Spirit and Water? How can one be born again? Nicodemus is being too literal at the moment, thinking that birth only happens with the body.

We journey with them as they move to the roof to catch the cool breeze. Jesus is teaching in concepts that we do not understand. Jesus mentions the cool breeze goes where it wants, we do not know where it comes from or where it goes. Much is like to Spirit of God, we do not understand where it comes from or where it goes. We can see and feel the affect it has on each of us, but we cannot control the Spirit of God just as we cannot control were the wind will blow.

We have the gift of time at this moment, in that we have an idea of what Jesus is talking about because we ourselves have grown up with the phrase as it has been quoted and misquoted throughout the centuries. We debate among ourselves as to what it exactly means, but like Nicodemus, we do not always understand. At moments we think we grasp the concept, but then the next minute our understanding is gone.

This is MY understanding of “Being Born Again of Water and Spirit”. Through baptism we die to our sins, and are born to new life; we become a part of God’s universal family; we are affirmed for who we are as individuals and as a group. But just like our bodies need food and sleep; our spirits need the spiritual food and nourishment as well. Our Spiritual world is fed by our relationship with God, and we are to keep the relationship ALIVE. We all stumble, fall, sin, turn our backs on God and one another, and our relationship is injured and damaged. God calls us to awareness, to wake up and renew our relationship with God and be intentional about it time and time again. Every time we see, touch, taste, feel water we can remember our baptism and hear the call again to renew our lives and relationship not only with God, but with ALL OF God’s Creation; with each other.

My friends, you are born again of the Spirit of God. Know this with all your heart; God calls each and every one of us by name. Our response is the telling part of our relationship with God, how we act, how we talk, how we love and how we live with each other is our response to God’s love. Each moment, we have the opportunity to be Born Anew. Receive God’s love, let the spirit of God surround you, fill you and flow through each and every one of you always. Come and be born again, and again, and again, and again.

Peace and blessings.