Monday, September 29, 2014

Gospel JN 1:47-51

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 heaven opened

and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Reflection…

Jesus explains that Nathaneal is a true child of Isreal; he speaks the truth.  Nathaneal is confused when Jesus approaches and calls him by name and says he saw him under the fig tree.  However, this acknowledgement somehow serves Nathaneal as a revelation of Jesus and his existence as the Son of God.  Because Jesus had knowledge of Nathaneal’s thoughts and whereabouts, Nathaneal believed in Jesus. 

Nathaneal tells Jesus that he is the King of Isreal, and Nathaneal has no deceit in his heart.  Jesus tells Nathaneal that because he is able to recognize this, he has opened himself up to greater things.  His faith will allow him to reach heaven and all that eternal life with God and the angels can bring.

This Gospel passage makes me think of a recent homily by Father Philip.  He was talking to the kids about faith and explaining how you only need to have it until you reach heaven.  He explained that if faith is belief in something you can’t see, you would no longer need it once you came face to face with Jesus.  You wouldn’t need faith to believe; you would just believe. 

I always enjoy the homily at our school Mass, as the homily is intended for the children, it is always presented on a simpler level.  I think when it comes to religion and faith, we often need to put ourselves in a childlike state of mind.  Children are very open to things they cannot see.  They have such great imaginations.  As adults, we often look for everything to have a reason, to be concrete, to be visible. 

Nathaneal put his faith in what he could not see, until, one day, he saw.  Jesus was revealed to him.  He was given the greatest gift of all, eternal life in heaven. 

Prayer…

Go….believe….have faith in that which you cannot see or even fully understand.  Pray for the strength to be open-minded, like the children.  Pray that the realization of your faith will bring you joy and happiness.  Go…believe…have faith.

Amen