Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Today’s text

John 3:3-4

Jesus answered: In all truth I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above. Nicodemus said, 'How can anyone who is already old be born? Is it possible to go back into the womb again and be born?'

Reflection

The answer, of course, is ‘yes.’ We can return to the womb and be born again.

Each day we can retreat to the places of rebirth and wait as we did in the womb for birth to come to us … again.

Nicodemus’ absurd question points directly to what we need to find newness and grace, revival and peace each day. We return to the womb of ultimate compassion and know ourselves once more as beloved and, well, special--held, nourished, our uniqueness treasured and brought to life.

This place is everyplace the love of God in Christ envelops us whole and holds us near, the place … the places of knowing.

One biblical word for compassion is, quite literally, womb.

In the womb of divine compassion, of ultimate grace and safety, we are born from above, knowing a life that is new, freed from the barnacles of past that cling to our hearts and minds, tying us down.

These barnacles cling, ever re-attaching themselves to our hearts, stealing the newness Christ brings.

Still, there are precious moments, sometimes longer periods of time, even whole days when every cell of the body sings in newness, knowing freedom from every past sin and failure, from every wound and want, because we are surrounded and filled by the Love we have always wanted.

Praise of God is not forced or effortful in such times. Joy and gratitude become the essence of our being as we are made new, born from above, once more, in the womb of ultimate grace, unlimited love and perfect compassion.

Pr. David L. Miller