Gospel: John 1:43-51
The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
The Mass intention is for John Y
Reflection:
Yesterday, we read how Andrew brought his brother Simon Peter to Christ. Today, it is Philip’s turn to introduce Nathanael to the Lord. Unlike Simon who seemed to agree with his brother in meeting Jesus, Nathanael expressed cynicism about this itinerant preacher: “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?”. We too can behave like Nathanael. When we see other people do something good, we criticize rather than praise or support them. This often happens especially with people we know very well. Jesus’ Birth ushers in a new way of living: “to love one another” (1 John 3:11). From the darkness of sin, doubt, and cynicism the Lord has brought us to light, to Himself. May our journey with Him make us soon “see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”
- When was the last time you closed your heart to your brothers and sisters in need?
- How do you address your own cynicism?
- How does Christmas change you for the better?
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word today. You have called us to love one another. Transform our hearts to be open to the last, the least, and the lost. Amen.
Call of Nathaniel