Christmas Time: Friday 5th January, 2024 January 5, 2024
Reflection on the WORD
Philip and Nathanael – Faith: In today’s Gospel, Jesus met Philip and called him to be His disciple. He also met Nathanel, a “man without deception.” Yet, He did not call him to be His disciple. Ponder on: What are your personal experiences of Jesus that tell you that you are indeed ‘special’ to Him; and that He Loves you very deeply and unconditionally?
John 1:43-49
After Jesus had decided to leave for Galilee, he met Philip and said, ‘Follow me.’ Philip came from the same town, Bethsaida, as Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.’
Nathanael said to him, ‘From Nazareth? Can anything good come from that place?’ Philip replied, ‘Come and see.’ When Jesus saw Nathanael coming he said of him, ‘There, truly, is an Israelite in whom there is no deception.’ Nathanael asked, ‘How do you know me?’ Jesus replied, ‘Before Philip came to call you, I saw you under the fig tree.’
Nathanael answered, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the king of Israel.’
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- In Philip’s zeal of following Jesus, the Messiah, “Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth,” he urged Nathanael to see for himself and to discover the truth about Jesus.
- How much zeal do we have to make Jesus and the Good News of Salvation known in our daily living? How often do we speak about the Bible, the Sacraments like the Eucharist and prayer to others? These are our daily responsibilities as Christians.
- When Jesus encountered Nathanael He immediately praised him for his integrity. Through this, Nathanael experienced a deep conversion of heart. When was the last time we experienced a conversion of heart? What was the experience like?