Pentecost 1B: Trinity Sunday (John 3:1-17)

How do we know if someone is born from above or of the Spirit? According to Jesus, it hinges on the ability to perceive the kingdom of God. Yet, this response seems insufficient. What does it truly mean to ‘see’ the kingdom of God? How can one achieve such a sight? Jesus’ answer leads us back to our initial inquiry: ‘If one is born from above or of the Spirit.’ Thus, we find ourselves caught in a referential loop.

But this, of course, is not the end of my reflection. There’s a way out. Jesus provides a subtle clue in his dialogue with Nicodemus, reminiscent of the idiom, ‘Like a leaf in the wind.’ So, here’s the saying of Jesus where I think the clue to break the referential loop of God’s kingdom and being born of the Spirit is found: 

“The wind (pneuma) blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit (pneuma).” (John 3:8) 

Let’s delve into a re-translation to perceive this saying as a clue. Both the word ‘wind’ in the initial segment of the saying and the word 'Spirit' in the latter part stem from the same Greek term, ‘pneuma.’ ‘Pneuma’ carries at least three meanings: wind, breath, or spirit. It's understandable why nearly all English translations of the Bible opt for ‘wind’ in the first part of the saying, given the verb ‘blow’ used in context. Selecting ‘wind’ over the other two interpretations aligns most coherently with the overall meaning.

However, why not consider 'breath'? In Isaiah 40:7, we encounter, “The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass.” Moreover, in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, there's a poem titled “When the black breath blows.” Let's substitute ‘wind’ with ‘breath’ and explore how it alters our interpretation:

The Breath blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Breath. (John 3:8) 

Nicodemus, addressed as ‘you’ in Jesus’ discourse, lacks understanding of the origin and destination of the breath. Understandably so, as such knowledge often eludes those who haven’t experienced or embraced the kingdom of God within. The breath serves as the pathway to God’s presence—a vital force that both physiologically and spiritually sustains all living beings. Unlike Nicodemus, we comprehend the source and course of God’s breath: it flows in and out of our bodies. This breath transcends mere air; it embodies the energy of the Spirit. Not only does it nurture and uphold our existence, but it also leads us inward toward God's inner sanctum. 

Imagine that every breath we take is the movement of the breath of God or the Holy Spirit. The breath doesn’t go anywhere but remains within us. We may often forget that we’re even breathing at all, but it’s okay. The breath is ever-forgiving; even if you miss one breath, the next one comes right away. (This insight originates from Thanissaro Bhikkhu, a Theravada monk.) There’s never a single moment when the breath has left us. This is the faithfulness of the breath or God.

What we’re left with, then, is to be mindful and alert about how to breathe, how to skillfully allow the breath to govern our mind and body, and how to guide our thoughts and feelings. When the breath of God governs our mental and physical actions, it embodies the essence of living in the kingdom of God—a state of heightened awareness and alignment with divine guidance. 

Our cultivation of the breath of God in our mind and body is none other than experiencing God in a trinitarian way. Our human mind and body into which God the Son incarnates encounters the presence of God the Father through the Breath of God the Holy Spirit. 

So my friends in Christ, take a moment to acknowledge the breath of God in your breath. Breathe in and out the grace, compassion, and hope of God who breathes back the peace, which surpasses all understanding, guarding your hearts and your minds in Christ.