Today’s Gospel is a segment of the conversation between Our Lord and Nicodemus. Nicodemus was not just “one of the crowd.” We might say he was a “big deal:” a Pharisee, an intellectual, a religious leader, a member of the Sanhedrin, the legislative and juridical council of the Jewish people. While most members of the council were opposed to Jesus, Nicodemus was different. He was intrigued by Jesus and sought to understand him. He may have been intelligent but he was not so courageous, because out of fear of what his colleagues would think, he went to Jesus at night to avoid detection.
His visit turned out to be a “Late Nite Catechism” on the purpose of Our Lord’s salvific mission. It was a catechesis that had three main points:
Just as Moses lifted up the bronze serpent in the desert so that those who looked upon it would live, so Jesus would be lifted up on the cross so that we might have eternal life.
Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save it. He came in mercy to offer us life, despite our sins and foibles.
The third point is rather sad and disconcerting. Our Lord says that he came into the world as a light, but people preferred the darkness. We might well describe our life as a tension, a struggle between light and darkness. Ezechiel says that the Lord takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked man but that he turn to him and live. (33:11) We, often through our sin, turn from light toward darkness.
Most of the time this occurs slowly and subtly, even imperceptivity. If we are not vigilant in our spiritual life, we can easily drift off to another place. We become less reflective and less discerning about what we hear and see. We slowly absorb the attitudes and values of the world. The light of faith slowly dims and we begin asking questions like: Do I really have to go to Mass every Sunday? Do I really need to pray daily? Why should I forgive that person who hurt me so badly? Do I really need to go to confession? I’m just fine. I haven’t murdered anyone and after all, I’m a senior citizen! I’m dispensed. Living together before marriage cannot be so bad. In fact, it may be something good. Besides, everyone is doing it. When we start thinking in such ways, it is a slow, subtle, movement from light to darkness.
Our Lord broke into human history and was lifted on the cross to offer us eternal life. Entering into that life hinges on shunning the darkness and walking in the light.
On this Laetare Sunday, the midpoint of Lent, the liturgy issues a wakeup call, a challenge to be alert, to be vigilant, to make good choices, Gospel choices, the kind of choices that help us stay under the bright light of faith, the Light who is Christ.
I don’t know the melody, but I appreciate the lyrics of hymn #598 in our missal entitled, “Christ Shine in Our Lives:”
In the dark of the night,
we will walk by your love, by your light,
with the flame of our faith as our guide.
In the stillness,
we wait for your word and the gift of your grace.
Speak to our hearts and our minds.
Christ, be our light. Christ be our guide.
Shine in your Church. Shine in our lives.
Dispel the darkness with your light.
Shine, shine in our lives.
