Alberic Jacovone OSB
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YEAR B
FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT - 26.3.06
2 Chr 36,14-16.19-23; Eph 2,4-10; Jn 3,14-21
The difference that Jesus makes
The
man who came by night. 'Nikodemos' (just like Nicholas & Cleopas), is a
common Greek name with a great meaning attached to it. It means 'conqueror (nicao)
of people (demos)'. - (Nicholas means also conqueror (nicao) of people (laos)
& Cleopas means 'Child of a famous father': & its feminine is
'Cleopatra'. At the time of Jesus, the name 'Nikodemos' was common; it was
hebricized as 'Nakdimon' & shortened as 'Naqai'. In fact, a well known
personality who lived in Jerusalem around the time of Jesus was 'Nakdimon Ben
Gurion'. Nicodemus is mentioned on three occasions, & only in John's Gospel.
Here, Nicodemus (it means 'Conqueror of people') is portrayed as a
prominent Pharisee, a member of the ruling class in Judaea, a member of the
Sanhedrin or Jewish Council, a wealthy man & an outstanding teacher in
Israel. All seems to suggest that he was a prominent Jewish politician under the
Roman Empire. First he appears in today's story (Jn 3,1-21) when he comes by
night to engage Jesus on important topics & Jesus confronts him with the
absolute necessity 'to be born again' and accept the consequences of that
experience. Next (in Jn 7,50), he appears in a failed attempt to arrest Jesus,
six months before He was crucified: while Chief-Priests & Pharisees have
decided to arrest Jesus as a deceiver, Nicodemus argues that the Law (the Torah)
cannot condemn anyone, until a fair hearing is conducted (7,51) & in
response he himself is accused of being a follower of the Galilean. Finally, he
appears after the death of Jesus, bringing a large quantity of spices to anoint
the body of Jesus 19,38-42). Each
time he is presented a 'the man who went to see Jesus by night',
as if afraid to be seen with Jesus in public.
'Nicodemus'
in our life. Today's Gospel invites us to address the mistrusting, hurting,
misunderstanding, dark, destructive & manipulative side of our life:
we fool ourselves to think we are not included in the conversation between
Nicodenus & Jesus on the sad realization that we human beings prefer
darkness to light ( Jn 3,19). It can be argued that Nicodemus was quite
courageous: he came by night, not out of fear to be seen with Jesus, but to
avoid the pressing crowds & thus have a chance of a long interview with Our
Lord. Notice how cunning he was when the Jewish Council had decided to arrest
Jesus: he was bold indeed in calculating how to bring out the evil of their
lawless act, by matching it against the ridicule they had for the lawless
behaviour of the 'crowds' (Jn 7,49-51). And he stood courageously at the scene
of the cross, while all his disciples abandoned Jesus & fled for their
lives. Nicodemus stands for us when we choose to move from darkness into the
light of faith, while tragically Judas stands for those who go from light into
darkness, betrayal & utter self-destruction (Jn 13,30). Nicodemus is the one
who brought costly ointments for the burial of Jesus: he expressed love, while
honouring -in death- the One who was executed as 'King of the Jews'.
He remained puzzled as to how God's plan for our salvation was realized,
just as we continue to be amazed today. Nicodemus stands for each of us as we
face day-by-day doubt & unbelief, & yet are inspired by 'the signs &
miracles' that the Lord performs. So, let the sad reality with which Jesus
confronted Nicodemus be a lesson for us: 'the Light has come into the world,
& yet people prefer Darkness to Light' (Jn 3.19). And let the educated
people of all time be challenged by Nicodemus: learned, rich, ruler, teacher
& Pharisee, he had the best that Judaism could offer: yet none of it was
adequate for the difference that Jesus can make in our life.
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