Here is today’s Gospel: ‘Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born anew”’.

Blaise Pascal wrote: ‘Console thyself, thou wouldst not seek Me, if thou hadst not found Me’. Jesus had already ‘found’ Nicodemus, drawing him to Himself with great gentleness. Jesus tells him that he must be born again (or, from above) of water and the Spirit, to enter the kingdom of heaven.

He draws us, too. The deep birth of the Spirit is so well described by St John of the Cross: ‘On a dark night, Kindled in love with yearnings–oh, happy chance! – I went forth without being observed, My house being now at rest. In darkness and secure, By the secret ladder, disguised–oh, happy chance! – In darkness and in concealment, My house being now at rest. In the happy night, In secret, when none saw me, Nor I beheld aught, Without light or guide, save that which burned in my heart. This light guided me More surely than the light of noonday To the place where he (well I knew who!) was awaiting me– A place where none appeared’.

May your own interior journey bring you to this place of meeting, and may God bless you this day.