5-Jan-17

Gospel JN 1:43-51
Jesus decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip.
And Jesus said to him, "Follow me."
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter.
Philip found Nathanael and told him,
"We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law,
and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth."
But Nathanael said to him,
"Can anything good come from Nazareth?"
Philip said to him, "Come and see."
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
"Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him."
Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree."
Nathanael answered him,
"Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this."
And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see the sky opened and the angels of God
ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
Reflection:
"Philip found Nathanael and told him,
"We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law,
and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth."
But Nathanael said to him,
"Can anything good come from Nazareth?"
Upon hearing from Philip that they had "found the One," Nathanael's initial reaction was one of scornful skepticism.
He questioned, "Can anything good could come from Nazareth?"
Nathanael was straight forward; he made no pretense of his doubt.
But, Jesus was not dissuaded.
Looking beyond Nathanael's condescending attitude, Jesus saw his good qualities and said,
"Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him."
Jesus does the same for us.
Jesus does the same for us. He looks beyond our skepticism and doubts and sees our abilities and talents. Jesus recognizes our potential to lead others to Him.
Like Nathanael, I may ask the Lord, "How do you know me?"
It is then that I remember the words of the Psalmist:
"For it was you who formed my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb." (Psalm 139:13)
And again, like Nathanael, I answer: ...."you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
"God's faith in you will always be greater than your doubts in yourself." - - Unknown