Nicodemus makes a guest appearance in today's reading, one of his three excursions in John's gospel. In all three, he appears a man of hesitation and half-action, the patron saint of all waverers and half-believers. This Sunday we hear how he came at night – for fear that his reputation be damaged. His second encounter was, with growing opposition to Jesus, when he gives not a plea but a timid question: "Does our law condemn people without first hearing them…" No follow up, a query just left hanging in the air. His third appearance was too late: Jesus was already dead. He brought myrrh and aloes to anoint the dead body. He could relate better to a dead Christ.

Let's not be too hard on Nic, there's more than a resemblance between us and him. Our failure to speak up and out when we see the weak trodden upon, our inability to say and do the only decent Christ-like thing for someone. What daily opportunities are we missing? In a cooler climate for belief and believers, are we convinced about our beliefs? Is it a "perhaps" to everything? On this Trinity Sunday, do we even know about our faith or bother to learn? It's worth doing, the reward is out of this world "everyone who believe in him may not be lost but may have eternal life."[Gospel]

I pass this way only once, any good therefore that I can do.. for I shall not pass this way again.

(Comments to Tom at tomascox@eircom.net )