St. ??? Nicodemus, 2012AD
Nicodemus appears only in the Gospel of John three times. However, his appearances come at crucial places. As a result, his name is well known among Catholics.
In today’s Gospel excerpt from Jn 3, we hear some of the principal terms of John’s theology, such as the following: 1)Unless a person is born again, he shall not see the Kingdom of God. 2) The wind (Spirit) blows where it wills; we know not whence it comes and whither it goes. 3) God so loved the world that God gave the Only begotten Son. 4) The Son of Man must be lifted up. Also, John tells us that Nicodemus, also tried to help at least about justice in Jesus’s case before the angry religious leaders. (Jn 7.51-2). Nicodemus backed off. We do know that Nicodemus spent big bucks at Jesus’ burial in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. (Jn 19.39)
Still, the curious question is “Was Nicodemus a disciple of Jesus?” At a recent biblical discussion, a group of Catholics had a prolonged serious discussion on the question. At the end, all agreed that we really cannot tell.
In another curious citation in Jn 12, the Evangelist chides the “many, even among the authorities, believed in Jesus, but …they did not acknowledge it openly in order not to be expelled from the synagogue. They preferred human praise to the glory of God. (Was this a dig at “Nicodemus types”?
Jesus in John’s Gospel requires a “yes” or “no” from “wannabe” disciples. Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, gives us the strength to say “Yes” to Jesus. When we do so, we are born again and again and again.
However, we are not certain how Nicodemus responded to Jesus’ question. Instead of saying Yes unequivocally, did Nicodemus temporize or waffle with a “Nes” (tentative yes) or a “Yo” (tentative no)?
This is the challenge that Bishop Dennis Sullivan will pose to our confirmandi this Saturday, March 24, at the Liturgy of Confirmation.
Sadly, an evaporation of faith has occurred in the hearts of many Catholics. When a culture is better off than the majority of the rest of the world, both a sense of ennui and a sense of entitlement set in.
As Pope John Paul wrote memorably in the Gospel of Life, Evangelium Vitae, on March 25, 1995, when God is eclipsed in a culture, sooner or later, the value of the human person gets eclipsed as well. (Since then, others have added that the value of the beauty of creation has become eclipsed as a result of both the eclipse of God and/or the human person.)
Is John challenging the “Nicodemus in me” whether or not I temporize or waffle in my response to Jesus? All of us probably hedge our bets when it comes to faith, early and often. Am I readily identifiable as a Disciple of Jesus or do I, at times, obfuscate my faith? Do I make an effort to live with one eye on conventional wisdom and the other on the Gospel of Jesus? When Pilate told the crowd on Good Friday, “Look at the Man”, do we really see the God-man Whose Presence in our lives is the Fourth Dimension of human existence?
Jesus told Nicodemus (and us) that unless we have faith into Jesus (sic), the One Whom God sent into the world, the One Who is lifted up, we cannot have eternal life. Jesus wants us to cast our lot completely into His paschal mystery, that the Divine Presence of God is the Fourth Dimension in which we exist.
The image of the cross moves into clearer focus now in the second half of Lent. Franciscan Incarnational (God with us) spirituality can be a great assist to us always, but especially this time of year. St Francis of Assisi said that the Crucified One should be portrayed artistically with eyes half-open, half closed, between life and death with a gaze looking at each of us. St Anthony of Padua said that Christ died on the cross so that whenever you looked at a crucifix, it would be as you were looking into a mirror. Blessed John Duns Scotus said that the Crucified One gave His life to show you how much God loves you. Think about it.
The test of faith frequently arises when one is confronted by the left hand of God, viz., when something goes wrong with the middle class, bourgeouis way of life to which I feel an entitlement. What happens when one loses one’s job, when a child gets sick or gets into trouble, when one experiences an expected loss? Jesus’ Promise to be with us in all things – how does faith in Christ Jesus kick in then?
Although our culture is quick to say that we are a Judaeo-Christian culture (beware the word “Christianist!!!), contemporary culture tempts us subtly to buy into the Original Lie, viz., “Who needs God?” It stresses the individual at the expense of the group. It measures human worth by what one has, not what one is. It can make us numb to the real problems that others face, close and far away. It values efficiency and speed more than morality, measuring success as a sign of salvation.
The figure of Nicodemus challenges us to answer ourselves if we see God made human in Jesus Christ and if we see the Mystery of Christ Crucified as the basis of life. With the Help of the Paraclete, may any of the ambivalence of Nicodemus be banished from us!! Do we believe Jesus? More important, Do we believe in Jesus? God willing, may we all answer a hearty and healthy Yes when questions get dicey! 031812AD jfq
