Parallels Between the Natural and Supernatural: There are so many things in our lives where the natural tells us a deep truth about the supernatural. Having just given birth to my second child a few weeks ago, I’ve been praying a lot about childbirth, which fits so well into today’s Gospel.
“Unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God”
“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.”
New Life Through Birth and Baptism
So why does Christ speak about new life in Him as a new birth? Anyone who has ever had or seen a natural birth knows the intensity of it. Towards the end of labor, the mother is giving everything she has spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally, to bring forth new life. In an even greater way, Christ gave of Himself totally, with such intensity to give us new eternal life. He poured Himself out entirely for us. A mother labors to bring forth her child, while Christ labors to bring forth Heavenly children. After birth, women forget the pain and are overcome with love and joy over the birth of their new child.
Mothers are very willing to labor again to bring more children into the world. Again, in an even greater degree Christ has so much love and joy for us that He would’ve suffered all He did just to give you eternal life. Once the baby is born, the mother continues to nourish her child with her own body. So too, does Christ continue to nourish us with His Body, the Eucharist. A new baby is a totally new creation. So too, when we are Baptized, we are new creations in Christ. All our sins wiped away, we are able to start our new life in Him.
Easter Is a Season for Reflection!
During this Easter season, may God help you embrace the life in Him he labored so much to give you. May you embrace and be able to see all the parallels in your life that God put there to give you a deeper understanding of Him! There is so much grace available when we follow God’s natural order of creation!
