5/2/11 cblog re NICODEMUS, ACCEPTING PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN EUCHARIST, THEN MYSTERY; St. Philp, fr formal m:"Jesus was in touch w natural world..drew analogies to nature..today he draws attention to wind..despite ordinary of ...wind not predictable ..can live w/ fact so much mystery..jesus makes no attempt to answer nic's question re born again, but adds mystery to mystery, ..nicodemus was a pharisee..came at great risk to see jesus..in eucharist, must first accept presence, then deal w mystery"
Acts 4:23-31 After their release Peter and John went back to their own people and reported what the chief priests and elders had told them. And when they heard it, they raised their voices to God with one accord and said, “Sovereign Lord, maker of heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them, you said by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our father David, your servant: Why did the Gentiles rage and the peoples entertain folly? The kings of the earth took their stand and the princes gathered together against the Lord and against his anointed Indeed they gathered in this city against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do what your hand and your will had long ago planned to take place And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness, as you stretch forth your hand to heal,...and signs and wonders are done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
R. (see 11d) Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord
John 3.1-8 "Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said to him,“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him,“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him,“How can a man once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?” Jesus answered,“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you,‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
