March 14th Homily

Post date: Mar 16, 2021 1:29:42 PM

March 14, 2021 Homily by Fr. Karl Schray

Do you know Nicodemus? Who was he?

This is a painting of him along with Joseph of Arimathea

who took the body of Jesus down from the cross.

He was a devout pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin,

the supreme council of the Jews. Nicodemus had heard of Jesus

an itinerant preacher and healer. He knew the Scriptures and

more importantly he knew God. Instead of judging and condemning

Jesus, he decided to go and meet Jesus. He was a truth-seeker.

He came to Jesus at night because he feared being seen.

He said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has

come from God for no one can do these signs (these miracles)

unless God is with him.’

Jesus answered him, “Amen, Amen I say to you, no one can see the

kingdom of God without being born from above, born of water and

Spirit.” (Jesus was referring to Baptism.)

Today’s Gospel starts 6 verses later when Jesus says to Nicodemus:

“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.”

Do you remember the Israelites, after having fled Egypt, grumbling in the

desert? Many were dying from being bitten by poisonous snakes.

God told Moses to mount a bronze serpent on a pole and tell the people

to look at it and trust God again and they would be healed.

And they were.

In the ancient world a serpent was a symbol of healing. Today we

recognize it as a caduceus, an emblem of the medical profession.

The Apostle John uses a Greek verb implying “glorification”.

Jesus lifted up on the cross is not just dying for us

but is exalted to glory at his cross and resurrection and ascension.

He is healing for all.

To believe in Jesus is to live in the light of truth

despite what the world tells us. There is more to it than saying,

“I believe in Jesus.” To believe in Jesus is to live the way he taught us,

i.e., to turn our lives over to God.

The next time we hear of Nicodemus is when he argues with

the Sanhedrin that Jesus deserves a fair trial.

Unfortunately, his remarks are rejected.

The third time we run into Nicodemus is at Jesus’ burial.

He came with 100 pounds of spices with which to embalm Jesus’ body.

He has now come out of the darkness into the light of truth.

· Today we encounter Jesus. May we with Nicodemus make a full

· commitment to the Lord. Now we hear Jesus speaking through John:

· John 3:16—'For God so loved the world

that he gave his only Son,

so that everyone who believes in Him

might not perish but might have eternal life.’