The WORD in other words (2009) by Fr. Willy Villegas, SVD – Divine Word Seminary of Tagaytay City
Monday 2nd Week of Easter
Jesus’ discourse with Nicodemus deals with the Christian teaching on salvation (entering the Kingdom of God by being born again from above through water and the Spirit.)
The theme of water is one of the richest in the Bible, from the description of Paradise (as a garden with four rivers: Gen 2,10-14) to the river flowing in the heavenly Jerusalem (Rev 22,1-2).
The truth about water is: “Where there is water, there is life.” History reveals to us that civilization grows near the fountains of water and that cities are built along rivers.
The Bible establishes the reality that water is essential to life.
In the Johannine literature, water refers primarily to the Holy Spirit. Water is a primary symbol of the Spirit (CCC 694). Let it at once be said, that the source of this life-giving water (i.e., the Spirit) is the glorified Jesus Christ.
Faith in Jesus Christ is the basic requirement to enter the Kingdom of God, which happens when one is baptized with water (the symbol of the Spirit).
When Jesus died on the cross, a soldier still pierced his side (to make sure that he was dead). From the side gushed forth blood and water—blood, to show that Jesus was dead, and water—to show that only when Jesus is dead can the Spirit be given.
The believer receives the Holy Spirit in baptism, and becomes a child of God, one who can worship the Father “in Spirit and in truth.”
When the believer has the Holy Spirit, the prophecy of Jesus is fulfilled: ‘Rivers of living water will flow from within him’. He said this in reference to the Spirit that those who came to believe in him were to receive” (Jn 7,37-39).
All believers then become fountains of life-giving water. They bring life and fruitfulness wherever they go making the deserts of this world bloom and be fruitful (Ezek 47).
