Philip found Nathanael and told him,
“We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law,
and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”
But Nathanael said to him,
“Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
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.”
Lectio (Reading)
Read the passage twice and get a sense of what it is saying. Pay attention to what strikes you.Meditatio (Reflecting)
Slowly read the passage again, pausing on words or phrases that stands out. Take time to consider the meaning. particularly in your life.You will see greater things than this. Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.
Oratio (Responding)
Read the passage again, slowly. Consider how God has spoken to you and respond back to Him. You may want to consider how this passage is asking you to act differently.This is the same statement that Jesus said to the pharisees at His trial. It was the final thing that sealed his fate, and convinced the pharisees that He must be executed as a blasphemer. This is because this statement “ascending and descending on the Son of Man” comes directly from the Prophet Daniel where he prophecied the coming of the Lord. For ancient jews, when Jesus made this statement, it is exactly the same as saying “I am God”.
In today’s gospel Nathaniel asks how do you know me? Jesus answers He saw Nathaniel under a fig tree. This is curious because of the fig tree is the forbidden fruit in the garden of eden, and is the reason for the fall, later in John the fig tree withers because Jesus replaces the tree of the fall with the tree of salvation (the Cross). There could be a reference here to Nathan being called out of original sin to be a true disciple of christ, but it seems that this is actually just a way of pinpointing a time and place that Jesus could not have known unless he was really the Lord. So we have an apostle being called to discipleship, and he is hesitant, and it is at that moment that christ speaks most clearly to him, to clear away all doubt.
We aren’t told the real reason that this is important to Nathaniel, but Nathaniel immediately recognized the reference and declares Jesus’ divinity. So Jesus then asks do you say this because of what I said? Essentially, asking do you believe because I knew something that I should not have known? We assume Nathaniel nodded in agreement, but Jesus then goes on with a correction by saying you should believe because “I am god.”
It is important to remember at that time that there were many charlatans and “magicians” that would go around doing amazing things, and many before Jesus that claimed to be the messiah, but they were all fakes. Jesus is very clearly stating here that does not want disciples to think that He nothing more than just a good magician or a prophet, He wants disciples to see Him and know Him as God.
This is our call as well. If we knew who God really was, and if we truly understood the miracle of God in the eucharist, we would not be able to enter the church on our feet. If we really knew what was happening at mass, we would be prostrate on the floor begging for His mercy. But we don’t get this, and that is why I believe there is so much abuse of the eucharist in our modern church.
If we die in the right relationship with God, and end up going to purgatory, I think that the point of purgatory, amongst other things, will be about rightly orienting our disposition towards God. But here is the most amazing thing about God. Is He does not want to be a superior to us, lording His power over us, He wants to be in relationship with us. And He is slow to anger, and full of mercy. All you have to do is turn to Him, ask forgiveness, and then open yourself up to His grace, and your life will be forever changed… I think that is a pretty good deal, don’t you?
Contemplatio (Contemplating)
Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.Resolutio (Resolving)
Make a resolution that will improve your life, your relationships, or your faith. Make it small and attainable, and do it.Oh lord, help me today to hear your call, and see your revelation in my life. Help me to follow you and reject the evil one. Amen.