Daily Reflections - April 16, 2012

SERVANTS WHO SPEAK YOUR WORD

 

Nicodemus was, by any standard, a good man. He was fair, just, inquisitive and genuinely helpful and generous. Beyond that, he was a good listener, open to the truth, and willing enough to be taught or preached to.

How many of us can approximate having such an impressive list of traits? He figures three times in the Gospel. The first is what our Gospel passage refers to, when he visits Jesus by night and poses a question to Jesus. The second is when he intervenes with the Sanhedrin and counsels caution with regard to the outlaw Jesus. And the third is when he helped out for the burial of the Lord after the crucifixion.

How many of us can outdo him in his magnanimous deeds?

But for all his generosity and goodness, there was something that Nicodemus missed out on. He gave away something that most of us would not even think of parting with — his own pre-need “life plan.” The tomb in which Jesus was interred came from his selfless generosity.

But I would like to suggest that we all have the possibility to do something more than he did, something that he could never do anymore, and that is to go beyond being a merely good listener, or open-handed and generous, or being fair and just and equitable.

We can outdo him in at least one aspect. We can pray as the disciples did after their release from prison: “Enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness!” This, they asked, despite the threats and persecution. This is the missing ingredient as far as Nicodemus is concerned. This is what he missed out on. And this is what we ought never miss — the singular opportunity to be what Christ was, to do what Christ and His disciples did. To be for a waiting, inquisitive and searching world, an answer to their ultimate lifetime search that leads to happiness and fulfillment.

Nicodemus did good. But we are called to do better. This we can do by becoming what we pray for — servants who speak God’s Word. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: What is the missing ingredient in your life as a follower of Jesus? Where do you need to improve on?

 

Lord Jesus, shape me and mold me as a real disciple. Empower me to speak Your Word at every opportunity.