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Gospel Reading for April 14, 2026 – John 3: 7b-15
DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND
Jesus said to Nicodemus: “‘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.” Nicodemus answered and said to him, ‘How can this happen?”Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this? Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”
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Nicodemus found it DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND Jesus, even though he was “a teacher of Israel.” Perhaps this was because of the way the Pharisees practiced and understood religion. For them, strict compliance with the Mosaic Law—following it to the letter—was far more important than its deeper meaning, which is love for God and neighbor.
This is why Jesus was often at odds with the scribes and Pharisees, especially regarding the Sabbath. His simple explanation—that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27)—makes it clear that spirituality is not merely about rituals and burnt offerings, but about bringing forth the image of God within us in our daily lives.
Lord Jesus, help us to reflect the image of God within us, even in the ordinary events of each day!
