March 14th 2021 Fourth Sunday of Lent Gospel Reflection

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

May be an image of flower and nature

‘God so loved the world that he sent His only Son to save it’

Nicodemus appears on three occasions in the Gospel of John. He was a man of substance, a renowned teacher of the Law, an influential leader within his community and yet he was searching for more. Having heard about Jesus he was curious. Drawn by the simplicity of His message and the power and authority of His preaching, he approaches the Master under cover of darkness. There in the quiet space he elicits from the Lord the wonderfully consoling teaching that summarises the entire Gospel and will change his life forever: ‘God so loved the world that He sent His only Son to save it’. In that tender moment of enlightenment a heart is touched, a thirst is quenched and a curious searcher becomes a devoted follower. The expert in the Law meets Love in person, is surprised by Love and is now impelled to spread that love because love changes the way we hear and speak and respond. The extent of the change in the life of Nicodemus becomes evident when we next meet him defending Jesus at His trial before the Sanhedrin and finally, and most movingly, walking up the Hill of Calvary on Good Friday, carrying precious spices in order to give the Saviour a decent burial. It is he, together with Joseph of Arimathea who take Jesus from the Cross and return Him to His mother. Because of his encounter with Jesus, Nicodemus gave up what he was to become what he was meant to be. Isn’t that the challenge and opportunity of the Lenten journey?