Mystogogy – It’s Not Just for Neophytes

14 Tuesday Apr 2026

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Evangelization

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Accompaniment, Eastertide, Evangelization, Faith, Friendship, Jesus, Mystogogy, Neophyte, OCIA, Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, Pentecost, Sacraments

At the Great Easter Vigil, we welcomed home, through Baptism and Full Communion, forty-four men, women and children, a record number, into our faith and into our parish family. Easter marked the culmination of twenty-eight weeks of OCIA formation for these new Catholics. Their initiation into the Church was not a graduation, but a commencement, a new beginning. Now, during the seven weeks between Easter and Pentecost, the neophytes (the moniker given to those coming into the Church during their first year) continue their spiritual growth in the period of “Mystogogy”. It is a special period when the neophytes begin living and experiencing the Sacraments, and dive deeper into living their faith instead of just learning “about” their faith. It can be a precarious, “make-it-or-break-it” period, marked by joyful continuing transformation, or being left to flounder in confusion.

Icon of the Holy Trinity, Andrej Rublev, circa 1411,

What is often overlooked is that Eastertide isn’t just a time for transformation for neophytes. No matter how long we’ve been Catholic, nor how devout we are, each of us is still on our individual, spiritual, lifelong journey of ongoing conversion of growing closer to, and following in the ways of, our Lord. Mystogogy is not just for neophytes, it is for each of us.

How Will You Live Eastertide, this period of celebration between Easter Sunday and Pentecost Sunday?What will you do over the next six weeks? My hope is that you will give thanks for the blessings God has bestowed upon you, especially the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ; take time to pray and grow closer to Jesus; and that you will intentionally seek ways to live the Christ life through charity and love of your neighbor. I’d like to suggest a desperately needed and mutually beneficial way to love your neighbor and live that Christ life -accompany a neophyte!

Across our great country, the Church has experienced a record number of initiations this year. Your parish probably had a few, as well. If so, the neophytes need you! They need to be shown how to live their faith interiorly through prayer and fervent participation in the Sacraments, especially Mass and Reconciliation. They need to see how their faith can be lived exteriorly by serving within and outside of our Catholic community. They need friendship, people who will nurture them and show them the way. They need reinforcement that they made the right choice. They need personal invitations to become engaged in the life of the parish, not just given an overall directive from their catechists to “get involved”. Without your accompaniment, these neophytes are left to believe that they just “graduated” and may get confused about what exactly they should do next. Rather, they’ve just begun a new journey into a much more beautiful and joyful life. Won’t you seek them out and help them find that joy and beauty they need to help sustain their new-found faith through your friendship?

“My loving and all generous Lord, thank You for sending the Holy Spirit into our community and inspiring so many to desire to become brothers and sisters in Communion with You! Thank You for allowing me to be a part of their transformation as an OCIA catechist. Now, Lord, please place it on the hearts of their new communities to accompany them, and to help them continue to find and experience Your love in all aspects of their lives. Amen.”

(Mystogogy – It’s Not Just for Neophytes was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

©2013-2026 Reflections of a Lay Catholic. Reposting and sharing of material in its full and original content is permitted, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author and Reflections of a Lay Catholic.

How Will You Live Eastertide?

08 Wednesday Apr 2026

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Evangelization

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Acts of the Apostles, Easter, Eastertide, Evangelization, Jesus, Jn 20:11-18, Mary Magdalene, Mt 28:8-15, OCIA, Pentecost, Ps 105:1-4, Resurrection

The Resurrection of Christ, Paolo Veronese, circa 1560 (Wikimedia commons)

Happy Eastertide! I don’t know about you, but for me Holy Week’s intense focus on Christ’s passion can be dark, dreary, and depressing. Then, suddenly, Easter arrives with a burst of pure sunshine filling our hearts with joy, peace and hope! Holy Week necessitates a sense of sorrow and regret as we fast, pray, and repent. But, from now until Pentecost, we celebrate Eastertide. What will that mean for you? How will you live this exciting period?

In the gospels for Easter Monday (Mt 28:8-15) and Tuesday (Jn 20:11-18), we read about Mary Magdalene’s encounter with Jesus on the day after His crucifixion, and subsequent relating it to the other disciples. I was imagining this scene where she tells the disciples about her encounter. I doubt her conversation went like, “Mornin’, guys. Any fresh coffee? Oh, by the way, I got up early and went to Jesus’ tomb but He wasn’t there, and as I strolled back here this morning I met an angel-like guy all dressed in white who told me to stop crying. And then I met this other dude who said he was Jesus and I should stop holding on to him. What do you make of it?”

No! We’re told she “went away quickly” / “ran” to tell the disciples about meeting Jesus. She had seen Jesus Who was no longer dead and in His tomb and couldn’t run fast enough to tell the gathered together disciples all about her encounter. Imagine the excitement in her voice! She was gasping for breath and probably couldn’t find the words to make an intelligible sentence. Yet, nothing could keep her from proclaiming what she had witnessed.

What will you do over these next seven weeks? Will life just get back to normal? Or will you live Eastertide like Mary and the Apostles, about whom we read in the Acts of the Apostles, and who earnestly evangelized after Pentecost? Will you live the Psalm from Easter Wednesday (Ps105:1-4), “Give thanks to the Lord, invoke His name; make known among the peoples his deeds! Sing praise to Him…proclaim all His wondrous deeds!”

At every Mass, we recite, “We proclaim Your death, O Lord, and profess Your Resurrection, until You come again.” Will that sentiment remain within the confines of the church building, or will you live it outside of those walls? Will your disposition be joyful or will it revert to complaining about the exigencies of life?

Now is the time to consider how well you evangelize. Your parish may have just initiated at Easter a whole new cohort of Catholics through OCIA, and is preparing to begin the process with a new class. Who will you invite? There are people out there just waiting to have the gospel proclaimed to them, people who are searching for a new life in Christ. Won’t you show them the way?

“My dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your sacrifice for the redemption of my soul! Your Passion brought tears but your Resurrection brings immeasurable joy. I pray for the grace to courageously ‘proclaim Your death and profess Your Resurrection’ so that others may know of Your great love. Amen.”

(How Will You Live Eastertide? was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

My “Re-Birthday”

30 Monday Mar 2026

Posted by Jerry Robinson in OCIA, Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, Sacraments

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Tags

Baptism, Birthday, Confirmation, Easter, Eucharist, Evangelization, Faith, Grace, Great Easter Vigil Mass, Holy Communion, Holy Week, Jesus, Love, Mercy, OCIA, Order of Christian Initiatio of Adults

Today is Monday of Holy Week, the most important week in the Christian calendar. As Director of Evangelization and responsible for our parish family’s Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) it is not only a holy week, but a busy and stressful one, as well. Our parish family is blessed to have 45 new adults and youths who will be receiving one or all of the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist at the Great Easter Vigil Mass this Saturday night. The 28 weeks we’ve been preparing them has been a true joy. Now their preparation is over, and the preparation for orchestrating a beautiful, memorable, and flawless celebration is front and center.

As I began planning seating arrangements for Saturday night, I realized that today, March 30th, is the anniversary of my entrance into the Church. Thirteen years ago this date, Saturday, March 30th, I was sitting right where these Elect and Candidates will be sitting this Saturday night. My wife, children, parents, and many new friends were present to see me officially put an end to 56 years of secularism. I was filled with anticipation, but not sure what to expect.

During those years, I had not exactly been a golden boy. There were many actions on my part about which I was none too proud. As the priest poured the water over my head three times in the name of Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, I truly felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. The heavy burden of past sins I had come to regret were washed away by a stream of love. This, I thought, is what they mean by “mercy”.

Receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation didn’t quite have the emotional impact as did my baptism. I understood the anointing was an invisible sign of the graces being received which I would need to fully live and proclaim my faith, but I didn’t yet know what that would look like or how it would manifest itself in me. Looking back, I hope I’ve done it justice by helping others draw closer to and follow Christ.

And then there was the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. I still don’t know how to adequately describe the feeling of receiving the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord that first time. The best expression would be to simply say that I felt totally loved. To know that two millennia ago, Jesus underwent His passion, death and resurrection out of love for my sake elicited a tremendous sense of gratitude; but the sudden realization that He had just sacrificed Himself again, and offered Himself to me so that I would have every grace I needed to live the life He would have me live, overwhelmed me with so much joy that I was brought to the point of tears. I still feel that way at every Mass.

Today, as I celebrate the thirteenth anniversary of my “Re-Birthday”, I have two desires: to do God’s will such that these 45 soon-to-be new or fully sacramentalized Catholics will also feel the love, joy, and peace that I felt when I was in their shoes just a few years ago; and that they will develop a loving relationship with Jesus such that they will want to share it with other people who need Him.

“My loving Jesus, thank You for the mercy and love You have shown me these 13 years since I came to know You. Thank You for the grace to do Your will in helping others come to know You, too. I pray for each of the adults and youths who will be entering the Church that they will stay true to their new faith, take seriously their obligation to live sacramentally, and to live Your commission to evangelize. Amen.”

(My “Re-Birthday” was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Jesus and the Woman at the Well

08 Sunday Mar 2026

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Evangelization

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Discipleship, Evangelization, Faith, Friendship, Grace, Jesus, Jn 4:16, Jn 4:4, Jn 4:5-42, Living Water, Love, Mercy, Missionary Discipleship, OCIA, Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, Spiritual Thirst

Christ and the Woman of Samaria, by Benedetto Luti, via Wikimedia Commons

It is Sunday, March 8th, the third Sunday of Lent and, for us catechists and Elect in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) process, it marks the First Scrutiny leading up to the Elect’s baptism at the Great Easter Vigil. The Scrutinies (over three consecutive Sundays) consist of Scripture passages which help us to look inside and see the truth about ourselves, our predominant faults and habitual sins; and the divine love and mercy that God bestows on us when we repent and learn to trust in Him.

Today’s Gospel was Jn 4:5-42, Jesus’ meeting with the Samaritan woman at the well. In this passage there are numerous messages that help us see our brokenness, our need for spiritual fulfillment, and our futile efforts for finding happiness outside of a relationship with our Lord. But, thankfully, it shows us the joy we will find when we accept the “Living Water” that Christ offers to quench our spiritual thirst, replacing all the other things we’ve tried which failed to satiate us.

As I prepared to facilitate a discussion on this gospel, focusing on our sinfulness and the grace and mercy we receive from God in spite of that sinfulness, I couldn’t help but see a message about evangelization, as well.

In verse 4, the line before the selected passage, we read that Jesus, “had to pass through Samaria” on his way from Judea to Galilee. Jesus didn’t have to pass through Samaria, He could have crossed the Jordan and gone around Samaria like any other cautious Jew. Passing through Samaria was risky business since Jews and Samaritans hated each other. Thus, Jesus must have had a purpose in mind that was worth risking His and His disciples lives. That purpose must have been to encounter the woman at the well.

Jesus set an example for us – even in the face of fear, we should still evangelize and be intentional about it. It’s unlikely any of us are at risk of losing our life by proclaiming the gospel and bringing Jesus to those who don’t know Him. In Jesus’ case, He already knew the woman’s history, that she had failed to find happiness in her relationships, and that she was a pariah in her village. In spite of her sinfulness, Jesus met her where she was and spoke to her heart. We, unfortunately, don’t have that supernatural luxury. Instead, we have to explore and learn more about the people we encounter through intentional friendship so we can meet them where they are when we do present the gospel message to them. It can feel awkward at first, but, with practice, you get the hang of it. The perceived risk lies in our expectations of whether we will succeed or fail. But what matters is simply that we try.

Another verse in this passage, verse 16, plays to evangelization where Jesus tells the woman, “Go call your husband and come back”. When she responds that she does not have a husband, Jesus reveals that He knows she has been married five times and that the man she is presently living with is not her husband. The absence of judgment and condemnation from Jesus is seen by the woman as mercy, a loving acceptance of who she is, and the essence of an immediate conversion. The woman ran home and told her whole village about Jesus, instantly becoming a missionary disciple. When we encounter others, it is our hope that, by accepting and loving them for who they are, and sharing the gospel message that God is infinitely more gracious than our efforts could ever be, they will also become missionary disciples who will then lead others to Christ.

Tradition tells us that the name of the woman at the well is St. Photina. She and her sons were martyred for their faith during the persecutions of Nero. Her feast day is Friday, March 20th. St. Photina, pray for us as we evangelize!

“My loving Jesus, may I always come to You seeking spiritual fulfillment from the Living Water that You give, and that it will be a spring that wells up within me for eternal life. I pray for the grace to love and accept those I meet as true spiritual brothers and sisters and lead them to You so that their spiritual thirst may also be quenched. Amen.”

(Jesus and the Woman at the Wellwas first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Take a Walk

13 Friday Feb 2026

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Evangelization

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Charity, Evangelization, Faith, Fear, Friendship, Grace, Jesus, Love, Mark 7:31-37, Meeting others, Mercy, Proclaim the gospel, Relationships, Restraints, Walking

As Christians, we know we are supposed to follow and imitate Jesus by proclaiming the gospel message of salvation as He did. Yet, for so many of us, that is difficult to do. Why is that? It’s certainly not because someone else is restraining us. We don’t live in a country where it is illegal to live and talk about our faith. We’re not threatened with 20 years in prison because we’re Christian. We don’t live with the threat of having our village burned down because of what we believe. No, the difficulty lies completely within ourselves. Maybe it’s laziness, the busy-ness of life, letting other things become more important than God, fear, or simply a lukewarm faith. Whatever it is, it’s so familiar to us that we don’t even give it a second thought.

Today’s Gospel from Mark 7:31-37 is the story of Jesus healing a deaf man. What struck me about this passage was not the act of healing the man, nor that the witnesses defied Jesus and told others about it. Rather, it was the opening sentence, “Again he left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis.” Since I have a love for geography and maps, I checked to see how far it was that Jesus actually walked. It’s about 30 miles north from Tyre to Sidon, and then another 60 miles south to the district of the Decapolis on the south side of the Sea of Galilee. That’s 90 miles on foot through rough and rocky territory. Why did He make such an effort?

Jesus wasn’t just out for a stroll. He had a purpose to bring the message of salvation to not only the Jews but to the gentiles, as well. His method was to go out and build relationships with people, meeting them where they were in whatever physical, mental, emotional, or social state they were in. Let’s contrast His effort with how much effort we’re willing to expend. Most of us today live in some form of self-imposed isolation. It’s easier to not tidy up our home and stay hidden there than to invite another over for hospitality. Rather than get out of our vehicle to meet other parents while waiting in the school pickup line, it’s easier to stare at our screens. Rather than recognize the poor and needy, it’s easier to keep our heads down and walk fast around them. The list of lame reasons can go on forever.

God made us for each other. He comes to us through other people, our families, friends, and the strangers around us. Conversely, God reaches them through us, too. Behind our fast-paced and technological culture, our souls are screaming for the peace we get from a little silence and solitude, yet they still need to be nourished by healthy, interdependent relationships, both old and new.

We need to get off the couch or away from our desks, get off our screens, take a walk, and meet others who might just need to meet us. While we’re at it, we should think about the restraints we’re imposing on ourselves that keep us from following in the footsteps of our Lord. And then think about how we will explain this when it’s time for our particular judgment.

“Heavenly Father, thank You for the many gifts you bestow on me, especially the gift of faith. Thank You for my family and friends who sustain me and through whom I find joy. Help me, Lord, to grow that circle and be the friend who sustains someone else in need. Amen.”

(Take a Walk was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Be Magnanimous Like Mary

15 Friday Aug 2025

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Bible Reflections, Faith, Gratitude, Mary

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Blessed Virgin Mary, Evangelization, God, Holiness, Humility, Jesus, Luke 1:39-56, Magnanimity, Magnanimous, Magnificat, Mary, Mercy, The Assumption of the Virgin Mary

The Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Peter Paul Rubens, cir. 1616-1618; Wikimedia commons

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, honoring the day our Blessed Mother was taken into heaven, body and soul, at the end of her earthly life. The Gospel today, Luke 1:39-56 recounts Mary’s visit to Elizabeth (vv 39-45), and Mary’s response to Elizabeth’s greeting, her Magnificat (vv 46-55).

As I listened to the gospel being read at Mass this morning, I found myself marveling at Mary’s magnanimity. Here was a young woman, pregnant, who had just walked or rode a donkey nearly a hundred miles over several days, weary and probably hungry, and her humility still allowed her to express her joy and gratitude to God for the special gift she’d been given. Hers was the greatest gift that God could possibly give, the honor, but tremendous responsibility, of bearing His only Son. I wondered why we have difficulty recognizing and being grateful for the amazing gifts God gives to us, and being magnanimous in expressing that gratitude to others.

Mary begins her Canticle saying, “My soul magnifies the greatness of the Lord” (v46). How often do we proclaim the greatness of the Lord?

She continues,“My spirit rejoices in God my savior.” (v47). Would a casual observer say that our spirit is rejoicing in God our savior?

“He has looked upon His handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.” (v48). Do we realize that we are blessed to be His beloved in spite of our brokenness?

“The Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name.” (v49) Do we give credit to God for all the good things he has done for us in our lives?

“His mercy is from age to age to those who fear Him.” (v50). Do we love God enough to turn to Him in reconciliation and let His mercy flow over us, absolving us of our sins?

Because of her humility, God chose Mary to be the one to bring Jesus to us, you and me. It’s her role, too, to bring us to Jesus. Being the loving Mother that she is, she’s giving us an example of how we should live our lives, to be magnanimous like her.

Think about it and resolve to grow in this virtue. Not only will you grow in holiness, but it can be a simple and effective way to evangelize others by letting them experience your joy.

“Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus, whom you gifted to us through Your beloved Mary. Help us to emulate her humility by being grateful for all the wonderful gifts you give us each day even though we do not deserve them, especially the gift of the Holy Eucharist. We are not worthy to have You enter under our roof, yet you give us Yourself in that Blessed Sacrament. Mary, Cause of Our Joy, pray for us! Amen.”

(Be Magnanimous Like Mary was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

©2013-2025 Reflections of a Lay Catholic. Reposting and sharing of material in its full and original content is permitted, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author(s) and Reflections of a Lay Catholic.

Practice Makes Perfect

10 Thursday Jul 2025

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Evangelization

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Tags

Apostles, Evangelization, Faith, Faith sharing, Friendship, Jesus, Mt 10:1-7, Small group

In yesterday’s gospel, Mt 10:1-7, Jesus sent his apostles on mission to announce that the kingdom of heaven is near. He specifically told them to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel rather than to pagan territory and Samaritan towns. This is in contrast to his instructions in Mt 28:19 when, after his resurrection, he commands them to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations…”. In both cases, Jesus is telling them, and us, to evangelize. But why the difference?

It seems as though Jesus is giving the twelve a chance to practice evangelizing to those, who, unlike the pagans, already knew the teachings of the law of Moses and the prophets and would be more receptive to their message. He knew that taking the Word to all nations would be much more difficult. They needed to start slow and hone their skills along the way.

There is a message here for all of us, too, who, through our baptism, are also obligated to be evangelists on mission. We need to continuously increase our knowledge and understanding of our faith, and become more skillful at professing it, before we can expect to be proficient at making disciples of all nations. We need to begin with baby steps.

The best way to do this is to spend time with our friends in conversation about our faith, discussing the message of the gospel and what it is saying to us. I’m sure the apostles spent time together out of earshot from Jesus discussing all that they were learning, and sharing what it meant to them. By sharing our thoughts and insights in small faith sharing groups, or faith-based conversations over a meal with friends, we strengthen our faith and grow in virtue, and are better prepared to articulate to others His message of salvation.

I’m sure your parish offers opportunities to gather with other men and women in small faith-sharing groups and Bible studies at which you can safely share what it is that you hear God saying to you, and listen to and learn from others about the graces they receive through prayer and service. But, you don’t have to depend on your parish to organize groups or meetings. You can simply start from scratch by inviting friends to your house for a meal, spend a relaxing Sunday afternoon getting to know each other better, and interjecting faith based conversation into the experience. Do this enough and it will become second nature. Whether you realize it or not, you will be evangelizing each other. And, you will eliminate the fear that accompanies the prospect of evangelizing to people you don’t know.

“Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me insight into how to become a more effective evangelist, and for Your patience while I learn. You know I can’t go from zero to sixty in three seconds, but need space and time to accelerate slowly. You gave Your Apostles three years and even then they hesitated. I pray for the grace to grab hold of the opportunities to evangelize when You place them before me. Amen.”

(Practice Makes Perfect was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

What Month Is It, Anyway?

26 Monday May 2025

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Evangelization

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Baptism, Confirmation, Devotion, Discipleship, Evangelization, Faith, Good News, Jesus, Mental Health Awareness, Mission, Proclaim the Gospel Message

The Catholic Church’s liturgical seasons fall more or less the same time every year. Advent in December, and Christmas the last week of December through the middle of January. Lent usually starts in late February and runs into April. The 50 days of Easter takes us into late May or early June. Then, we also have months with special devotions: May to the Blessed Virgin Mary, October to the Rosary, and November to the Saints and the souls in purgatory.

In the U.S., every month is also set aside to promote awareness to various other worthy causes, e.g., Human Trafficking Awareness Month in January, and Suicide Prevention Month in September. Some months celebrate less serious interests such as National Ice Cream Month in July, and Zombie Awareness month in May.

The month of May is also devoted to Mental Health Awareness. Yesterday, as in each Sunday Mass this month, one of the petitions mentioned was for all those suffering from mental health issues. Certainly, this is something we should all pray for. Our collective prayers are a type of spiritual social outreach. But it occurred to me there is a petition that I’ve never heard mentioned at my parish church or any other church I’ve ever been to in all my travels – a petition for the faithful to evangelize.

Evangelization is the central mission of the Church. The proclamation of the Gospel – the saving message of who Jesus is and what He has done for us – is a responsibility we all have by virtue of our baptism and confirmation. Unfortunately, there are so few who actually take that responsibility seriously. If we believe our prayers will be heard for those with mental health issues, or for any special interest, then shouldn’t we believe that our prayers for the faithful to muster up the courage to evangelize will be efficacious, as well? A simple petition such as, “For all the faithful, that they evangelize by proclaiming the Gospel, let us pray…” will at least remind everyone of their role. Or, we can get bold, and amp it up a notch with, “For each and every baptized Catholic to honor their responsibility by evangelizing at least one person this month and bring them to Jesus, or deeper in their relationship with Him, let us pray…”

If we want to follow and obey our Lord, we have to spread the Good News. Every month of the year should be Catholic Evangelization Month! It is that important, not only for the salvation of the souls of those being evangelized, but our own, as well.

“Good and gracious Lord, thank You for loving me. Please help me and each and every one of the baptized faithful bring others to know Your amazing love, also. Help us to realize the grace of Fortitude that was bestowed upon us by the Holy Spirit at our Confirmations so that we may be effective evangelizers. Amen.”

(What Month Is It, Anyway?was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Curious Like Nicodemus

29 Tuesday Apr 2025

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Evangelization

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christianity, Evangelization, Faith, Fear, Friendship, Grace, Jesus, Jn 3:1-15, Nicodemus, Prayer

Jesus and Nicodemus, Crijn Hendricksz Volmarijn, c. early 1600s

The Gospels for yesterday and today (Jn 3:1-15), put us in the scene with Jesus and the renowned Pharisee, Nicodemus, who came to Jesus under the cover of darkness to ask questions about his ministry. We are led to believe that Nicodemus must have seen or heard of Jesus’ healing miracles and wanted to learn more about him. We know that Nicodemus eventually converted to be a secret follower of Jesus, so we can surmise that his curiosity was genuine and not a ploy to trap Jesus.

The fact that he came to meet Jesus at night may also give us a clue about his intentions. A nighttime rendezvous would be less conspicuous. If he was genuinely interested about Jesus, he may have feared being observed by other Pharisees that could result in his condemnation and rejection. In his position, he would have accumulated wealth that supported a luxurious lifestyle, which would have been jeopardized if his clandestine meeting had been discovered.

When I placed myself in this scene, I pondered Nicodemus’ motive and his dilemma. He had to satisfy his curiosity for truth, but the answer could result in his ruin. His fear of the environment and exterior influences would ultimately cause him to lead a secret and unfulfilled life.

There are millions of Nicodemuses in our world today – men, women, and teens, who are searching for truth, who are curious about Christianity, and who would like to know more but, because of negative social influences, balk at publicly asking questions for fear of what others will think or what they might lose. They are hiding out there in our workplaces, our schools, and our neighborhoods. We should be looking and waiting for them with intentionality, ready to answer their questions and allay their fears.

When a modern day Nicodemus does muster the courage to step out and seek answers, he may simply want to learn more about Jesus, or he’s aware that there’s possibly a different set of beliefs and a better way to live than he’s ever experienced. His curiosity may manifest itself by privately asking questions to a Christian friend or acquaintance. When he does, he is giving us an opportunity to evangelize, and we need to respond utilizing good listening skills. His questions may be phrased in ways that hide their real intent, and we may have to look behind the words. We should not make stuff up, nor answer questions with excess theology. He needs simple answers, and if we don’t know an answer, we should say so and endeavor to find the answer for him. We should try to avoid vocabulary that is foreign to non-Catholics.

Like Nicodemus, his questions may appear antagonistic but probably aren’t meant to be so. Instead, they are likely due to his personal cynicism and relativism that has developed over years. He’s not ready to reveal that he’s on any kind of spiritual quest. He is curious but cautious, and still needs to feel safe and unthreatened when asking questions. We should respond in a friendly manner to increase the trust that has allowed him to ask questions in the first place.

Our gentle evangelizing should have an eye towards bringing this person from a a place of curiosity to being open to exploring the idea that God is a personal God rather than a concept, and that we can have a relationship with Him. We can introduce him to Jesus and the story of His passion, death, and resurrection in atonement for our sins. And we should be patient and pray for him, being grateful that, while he may not yet be making a commitment to spiritual or personal change, he no longer rejects the idea.

“Heavenly Father, I thank You for the virtue of fortitude given to me with my Confirmation that has prepared me to proclaim the saving message of salvation of Your Son, Jesus. May I ever be vigilant and prepared to welcome anyone who is curious about our Christian faith. I pray that Your Spirit affords me the grace to respond to them lovingly with humility and gentleness. Amen.”

(Curious Like Nicodemuswas first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

The Lord’s Supper

18 Friday Apr 2025

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Bible Reflections

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Christ's Passion, Easter, Eucharist, Evangelization, Fear, Hope, Jesus, Mass, The Last Supper, The Lord's Supper, The Resurrection, The Twelve Apostles

I attended our parish’s Mass of the Lord’s Supper tonight and, as always, it was especially beautiful and reverent. During the reading of the Gospel (Jn 13:1-15), I envisioned myself in the scene, sitting around the supper table with Jesus and the Apostles. Nobody seemed to notice a fourteenth person there. When Jesus washed the feet of his Apostles, I recalled the first time I had my feet washed by our priest as he performed the Mandatum Rite, and what a humbling experience that was for me.

Then during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, as our pastor held aloft the Body of Christ, my mind drifted. (I know that’s not supposed to happen, but it did). My thoughts turned to a disagreement my wife and I often have. We both like to read, and she frequently flips to the last chapter, spoiling the story by learning how it turns out. Me, well, you couldn’t pay me ten bucks to cheat. I delight in seeing the story unravel. I want to be surprised, and I certainly don’t want her to spoil the story for me by telling me how it ends before I’ve read the book.

And then it dawned on me that I was the only one sitting at that supper table who knew what was to come in just a few hours. I knew that Judas the Iscariot would soon leave to go bargain for his thirty pieces of silver in return for his betrayal of Jesus. I knew Jesus would soon be arrested and tried, and of the pain he would endure being tortured and crucified, and I knew our beloved teacher would die. I could see all these horrendous events.

But, I also knew the happy ending: that Jesus would be lifted up after three days, that His resurrected self would join and encourage His friends in the upper room, and that at Pentecost, He would ascend into heaven.

But I couldn’t tell any of this to the other twelve reclining at table there with me. And I wondered if, through some twist of time and it was even possible for me to tell them, would they be like me and not care to know how it all plays out, or would they be like my wife and want to know what the future held in store?

I’ve been mulling this conundrum for the last couple hours. I’ve decided this is one case in which I’m glad I know the story has a happy ending. It gives me hope, takes away my fears, and makes me want to give a spoiler alert to the whole world!

How about you? Won’t you join me?

“My dear Jesus, You know and I know what You’re about to experience. At every Mass, I am filled with both tears of joy and sadness as I reflect on Your Passion. I know You gave it all for me…sinful me. I am so deeply grateful for Your love. Thank you! Amen.”

(The Lord’s Supper, was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)