Searcher of Mind and Heart March 24

Let me witness the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause! Jeremiah 12:20

Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them,
“Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?” John 7:50-51

Piety

God, you know everything that is going on in our hearts and minds. Break through our petty human concerns and help us to come back to you like Nicodemus – curious about You, the pregnant possibility of being born again in the Spirit and everlasting life. Help us to come to you -- not under cover of darkness but when the light shines brightly. No matter what the crowds do or say, give us the strength to be seen with you and your friends. Help us to come to your defense and not stand idly on the sidelines while your enemies mock you and gamble for your garments. Give us the prudence and fortitude of Nicodemus to turn to you no matter what is happening around us. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/032407.shtml

For me, Nicodemus is one of the most amazing characters in the New Testament. It is interesting to note that he only appears in the Gospel of John…but in that book he makes three appearances.

His relationship with Jesus probably goes through many stages but we witness three of those thanks to John. Today’s reading focuses on the second encounter.

No matter if we have good or evil in our heart and minds, the Lord seeks us out and lets us make the final call. That’s why Nicodemus’ turn toward Christ counters Judas’ turn away from Christ so dramatically.

Judas acts despite the gift of being with Jesus every day. Nicodemus hears about Jesus and seeks him out in faith stating “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.” (John 3:2)

Jesus coaches Nicodemus not to be amazed at what he is saying even though the Pharisee is puzzled about being born from above through water and the Holy Spirit. Despite Nicodemus high position in the temple, he clearly is one of the first converts to Jesus teachings beyond the disciples and the wine steward in Cana. Imagine the risk he took just to sneak away under cover of night to talk with Jesus. Imagine the two men, huddled together in a small, candle-lit room, in a Group Reunion, talking about their faith journeys into the late hours of the night.

Just as Nicodemus searches out Jesus and probes the Lord’s mind and heart, Jesus was a magnet drawing Nicodemus to him. That encounter bolsters Nicodemus to become an advocate for Jesus as the other Pharisees turn against Jesus – taking up the role of Moses as advocate among people whose hearts were turning against the Lord.

In today’s Gospel, Nicodemus tries to put the breaks on those who are plotting against Jesus. “Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?” John 7:50-51

Immediately, Nicodemus also is accused of being a Galilean like Christ.

Although he starts out questioning, Nicodemus winds up doing what goes against the popular actions of people. He moves from expressing his faith in Jesus privately in the night to acting publicly. Even though he challenges the Pharisees to get to know Jesus, they reject the idea and continue plotting.

After this scene, imagine the pain Nicodemus feels as we go through the final days of Lent and move into the Passion of our Lord. Through this pain and witness, Nicodemus is there, and remains there after all others have deserted Jesus and fled.

Action

1) Nicodemus rejected the superficial piety of the Pharisees which Jesus often mocked –wearing robes with long tassels and taking places of honor in the Temple. His faith moved from an interior expression to a more public expression.

Let Nicodemus be an inspiration for our continued action -- taking our love from the safety of the sanctuary to the mean streets of the cities which provide so little protection and shelter to the homeless. Let it spread to those who are affected by violence and hatred, those who are forgotten and oppressed and those who are victims of policies and practices which silently benefit us.

Nicodemus knew that if he did not act, he would be inextricably linked to the actions of the Pharisees. His was a voice, like John the Baptist, crying out for people to hear.

2) Remember that today, March 24 is the anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero. He too spoke out against the prevailing powers of his day in El Salvador and in favor of the rights of peasant farmers who were being repressed and slaughtered by the army.

Read his last sermon here: http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=magazine.article&issue=soj8005&article=800512

3) We can honor the memory of Archbishop Romero by acting in solidarity with the poor farmers he spoke out to protect. How often do we pick up a cup of coffee at a local shop and pay $3 or $4 or more for a few ounces of brew while the framers who grow that crop get paid very little from the coffee marketers? Today, there is a whole range of ways that you can purchase coffee (and other products) that are based on “fair trade” principles so farmers get a decent price for their coffee. For more background, see this link: http://www.larrysbeans.com/coffee/fair_trade.htm

Buy a pound or two of fair trade coffee this weekend after all Masses at St. Mary of Sorrows.