GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 24TH AUGUST 2016
FEAST OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW, APOSTLE
1ST READING: Revelation 21:9-14
PSALM: Psalm 145:10-13, 17-18
GOSPEL: John 1:45-51
THEME: COME AND SEE
We all react differently to “Breaking News”. Some jump from their seats filled with emotions and do not take note of much details about the piece of news. They simply accept as true whatever has been reported, especially when it is coming from a trusted source. There are others who are no gullible listeners or readers. They look beyond the excitement surrounding the news and ask pertinent and critical questions to ascertain the veracity of the information.
Philip’s statement to Nathaniel, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth” (Jn 1:45), was a piece of breaking news, taking into consideration the strong messianic expectation among the Jews at that time. However, Nathaniel, as Jesus would later describe him, was no man of duplicity or guile and he was incapable of deceit. His question, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”, was not a mark of a doubtful person but one who desired to make judgements based on facts. In response to this desire, Philip said, “Come and see”.
Nathaniel (identified as Bartholomew in the Synoptic Gospels) stands out as a man whose faith in Jesus was not based on hearsay but encounter. There are two stages of coming to faith in Jesus – theory and experience. Theory is what people have written and said about Jesus and experience is what you yourself make of Jesus after encountering him. When our faith in Jesus is based solely on what the preacher, the pastor or theologians say about him, a day will come when another person will say something else and our faith will be shaken and probably lose it. However when we go beyond the first stage and take the important step to encounter Jesus for ourselves, our faith is strengthened and like Nathaniel we can come out with our own personal statement of faith – “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (Jn 1:49).
Today, Jesus, through Philip, invites each one of us to “come and see”. It is call to experience him. It is a call to enter a sacred space and time. Ultimately, it is a call to prayer, for it is in prayer that we come to know who Jesus really is. In the footsteps of Nathaniel, may we respond to this call. Jesus is waiting for us.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, draw me close to you, that I may experience you as you really are. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)