When Jesus first used the phrase “born again,” He was speaking to Nicodemus, a religious man who came to Him secretly by night. In that quiet conversation, Jesus said, “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Nicodemus was puzzled, just as many of us might be. How could someone be born a second time? Yet Jesus was not speaking of a physical birth, but a spiritual one — a new beginning through the power of the Holy Spirit.
To be “born again” means that the life of God enters the human heart. It is not something we achieve by effort, but something we receive by grace. In baptism and faith, the Holy Spirit renews us from within, washing away sin and giving us a new identity as children of God. As St. Paul writes, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
This rebirth changes everything. It means we no longer live only for ourselves, but for the One who gave us new life. Our thoughts, desires, and choices begin to be shaped by the Spirit. We learn to see others with compassion, to forgive, and to walk in the light of truth. The heart that was once restless begins to rest in the love of God.
Being born again is not a single emotional moment, but the beginning of a lifelong journey. Every day we are invited to renew that life of grace — to let the Spirit breathe in us again. When we pray, repent, and receive the sacraments, we allow God’s new life to grow stronger within us.
May we never forget that this new birth is a gift — not earned, but freely given. And every time we turn back to the Lord, He makes all things new once more.
Lord Jesus, breathe Your Spirit into our hearts again. Let the life You began in us grow in love, hope, and faith, until we live fully as children of Your Kingdom.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
