Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator
Nicodemus makes three appearances in the Gospel of St. John. First he appears in chapter three in a night time visit to Jesus. Today's Gospel text presents us with the second of those appearances. By challenging the other Pharisees, he "comes into the light" in a metaphorical way of speaking. No longer is his interest in Jesus a night time activity. As we might expect, Nicodemus comes in for some ridicule from his fellow Pharisees for his defense of Jesus.
The third and final appearance of Nicodemus comes after the crucifixion when he and Joseph of Arimathea make arrangements for Jesus' burial. His defense of Jesus in chapter seven has now developed to the point where he is ready to do more than speak in defense of Jesus. He now acts upon his convictions.
Nicodemus is one of many characters who gradually come to believe in Jesus. These characters remind us that faith is a gift which gradually matures. They are not hit by a lightning bolt; rather they are persuaded by the words and the example of other people of faith. In both the Hebrew and the Christian Scriptures, examples like Nicodemus abound.
These characters remind us that we need to allow our faith to develop through prayer, through careful reading of the Scriptures, and by becoming familiar with the various texts that are foundational to our faith such as the catechism and the encyclical letters of the Holy Father. Like any "professional" who engages in continuing education, professional Catholic Christians cannot simply rely on the answers we learned in grade school. Our faith is too precious a gift. We cannot allow it to languish.