[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Meditation: John 1:45-51

Saint Bartholomew, Apostle

Come and see. (John 1:46)

Can you hear the excitement in Philip’s voice as he went to find Nathanael? “We found him! We found him!” And yet Nathaniel, also known as Bartholomew, is not alto­gether ready to share his enthusiasm. “Really? You expect me to believe that the Messiah is from a back­woods town like Nazareth?”

As Nathanael approached, Jesus looked into his heart. He didn’t rebuke him for being a skeptic or taking so long to come. He looked past all of that and spoke about the future that God had in store for him. When Nathanael saw this, he was intrigued, which led to more questions and deeper revelation as Nathanael saw that this really was the Messiah.

What a change in Nathanael’s demeanor! Gone is the cynic. Gone is the dreamer sitting under a tree. Now there is a man willing to follow Jesus, a new disciple who will come to see heaven opening up for him! Nathanael was so touched by Jesus that after Pentecost he went on to be a great evangelist. He traveled as far as Armenia, where he is said to have converted the king, Polymius—an act that led to his martyrdom.

And to think that it all started with his friend Philip going out and finding him!

Many people will tell you that there was someone in their life whose witness changed their heart. There was one person who reached out to them just where they were and walked beside them, leading them to Jesus. In fact, many saints and famous Christian thinkers, from St. Augustine to C.S. Lewis, tell us that they owe their faith to some­one who, like Philip, invited them to “come and see.”

You can be like Philip, too. It’s not hard to tell your friends or fam­ily members, “come and see.” It may take just a bit of courage, but the Spirit can provide what you may lack. Remember, all you have to do is tell them that God loves them and that Jesus wants to touch their hearts. You don’t have to give any long theological discourse or defend every point of Catholic doctrine. Just bring them to Jesus, and he’ll take care of the rest.

“Jesus, help me to talk about you with all the excitement in my heart.”

Revelation 21:9-14; Psalm 145:10-13, 17-18

[Salvation]

A Christian Pilgrim

WE TOO NEED TO MAKE THE EFFORT TO “COME AND SEE”

(A biblical reflection on the Feast of St. Bartholomew – August 24, 2012) 

Gospel Reading: Jn 1:45-51 

First Reading: Rev 21:9-14; Psalms: Ps 145:10-13,17-18 

The Scripture Text

Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” Nathanael said to Him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.” And He said to him, “Truly,  truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” (Jn 1:45-51 RSV) 

The list of the apostles given in the synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) includes that of Bartholomew, whose feast the Church celebrates today. No other mention is made of this apostle in the Gospels.  Since Bartholomew is a family name, however, not a personal one, he is thought to be the one spoken of by John as Nathanael (Jn 1:45).

According to the Gospel of John, Jesus had invited Philip to follow Him (Jn 1:43), and Philip in turn called Nathanael to see “Him of whom Moses in the law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (Jn 1:45). Nathanael’s response – “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (Jn 1:46) – reflected the general attitude about this remote and insignificant village in Galilee.

Nathanael’s reaction was the product of his natural mind. Certain that nothing of merit could emerge from Nazareth, he immediately dismissed the possibility that Jesus could indeed be the Chosen One. Only Philip’s persistence – “come and see” – brought him into an encounter with Jesus that changed his life and led him to proclaim Jesus as “the Son of God” (Jn 1:49).

If our lives are to be changed so that we become faithful followers of Jesus, we too need to make the effort to “come and see.” We must be willing to put aside our preconceived ideas about God, our fears and our prejudices, our arrogance and self-sufficiency, and humbly ask Jesus to reveal Himself to us and to give us a deeper understanding of who He is as Lord and Savior.

Jesus thirsts for souls. He wants us to experience the intimacy with which He cares for us. A tax collector (Mk 2:13-17), a woman with a reputation for immorality (Lk 7:37-50), a Roman centurion (Acts 10:1-8), a thief (Lk 23:40-43), and a persecutor of Christians (Acts 9:1-6) all met Jesus. The recognized His love, knew a time of repentance and forgiveness, and their lives were changed at the moment for eternity.

Short Prayer: Lord Jesus, I believe that You want to reveal Yourself to me more deeply. Give me an awareness of my need for you so that I may acknowledge Your work in my life. Help me to commit myself to You, and to spread Your truth everywhere. Amen.