Johannine Hours                 John 3:1-17              January 1997
_____________________________________________________________________


[The "Johannine hours" are meant as a way of seeking God in silence
and prayer in the midst of our daily life. During the course of a
day, take a moment to read the Bible passage with the short
commentary and to reflect on the questions which follow.
Afterwards, a small group people can meet to share what they have
discovered and perhaps for a time of prayer.] 

Birth is the moment in which one's life appears as both gift and
call. I can be brought into the world only by the act of an other
person, by someone who is expecting me. 

"Being born of the flesh" is to be separated from one's mother's
body and to become autonomous; it is to take on one's own face and
to become able to meet others, face to face. Yet human life is not
this alone. A person only becomes fully alive when he or she
discovers, beyond themselves, a "why" or a "whom" to live for. If
there is nothing to live for or if one is alone, a person will find
neither the energy or motivation needed to set out into life,
filled as it is with suffering. 

"Being born from above" is to discover that one's deepest identity
is to be found ahead of us, in the process of becoming where
choices and responsibility come into play, from the present moment
onwards. Recognizing clearly the "why" of our existence and
anchoring it within God, gives our desire a direction over the
course of a whole lifetime. 

"Being born of water" is a reference to a reality already evoked at
Jesus' own baptism (Mt 3:16-17). Coming up out of the dark waters,
together with Christ, is to be liberated from the power of evil,
fear and death, in order to take part here and now in his
resurrection. 

To be born into this world by the Spirit who "makes us cry out,
Abba, Father," means leaving self-preoccupation behind and opening
ourselves to God's hope for us, entering thereby into a life of
communion. This means to hear, in silence and peace, the call of
Christ who tells us of God's plan and draws out of self-isolation. 

      Which persons have "brought me into the world" through their
      trust in God? 
      How does the Father's gaze upon me help me to awaken others
      to the life of the Spirit? 

"Johannine Hours" - 01/97 - ©71250 Taizé-Community, France.
community@taize.fr 




-----------------------------------------------------
file: /pub/resources/text/taize/johannine: jh9712.txt
.