Posted by The WORD in other words (2010) by Father George Britos SVD – Christ the King Seminary, Quezon City
Tuesday 2nd Week of Easter
Image source : Wikimedia Commons
Introduction
The question “Are you born again?” has prompted many Catholics to join renewal programs. Sadly, some leave the Church, thinking that “born again” is a new challenge of faith outside Catholic life. Yet the experience of being born again from above is already at the heart of Catholic teaching — it is lived through the Sacrament of Baptism.
Baptism: Our New Birth
Through Baptism, we are reborn as adopted sons and daughters of God the Father, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, and temples of the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:19). We are incorporated into the Church founded by Christ Himself on the rock of Peter (Matthew 16:18). As Jesus told Nicodemus: “No one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5).
The Challenge of Being Born Again
The true challenge of being born again is to make God the center of our life — the core of our being. This is not only a challenge but also the fruit of rebirth: to know, love, and serve Him above all (cf. Deuteronomy 6:5). St. Paul reminds us: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Living as Born Again Catholics
To be born again is to be “Godstruck” — to dream with the Lord, believe in the Lord, and proclaim the goodness of the Lord. It is not a one-time event but a lifelong journey of faith, nourished by the sacraments and lived in daily discipleship.
Conclusion
Yes, we are born again — through Baptism, through faith, and through living Christ-centered lives. Let us unwrap this gift fully, allowing God to transform us into His witnesses. Then we can truly say: we are born again from above.
“Lord, renew in me the grace of Baptism, that I may live as Your child each day.”
