Jn 1:43-51
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael
43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 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.”
46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 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.”
A simple command, "Follow me," and Philip left all to follow. Nathanael, like most of us, expresses a bit of hesitation until Jesus gets more specific with him. "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you." (Jn 1: 48) God has a plan for each one of us and calls us in various ways to fulfill it. And, despite our playing deaf or actual refusal, he will keep at us until we respond favorably and generously. Why do we ignore or fight? Jesus always wins. Nathaniel's declaration of belief, of faith, puts the words in our mouth for us: may his prayer be ours, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the king of Israel." (Jn 1: 49)
Bro. Rene
Dear God, help me to respond with generosity as did Philip and Nathanael when you ask me to do something for you. Amen.
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