Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle

Wednesday, August 24, 2011





Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:

1st. Reading:  Revelation 21:9b-14
2nd. Reading:  Psalm 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18

Gospel:  John 1:45-51


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 any good thing 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 there is no deceit!”  Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to 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 and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”  And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”



A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Most of us appreciate a person who is straightforward, one who is reliable.

Life becomes complicated when you're working with a person who is otherwise. Your level of trust can waiver. We get an example of this at election time. We spend a lot of time just trying to figure out if the candidates are consistent in their behavior, if their promises match their past behavior.

Young children are wonderful that way. Generally they tell it like it is, whether we want to hear it or not. Questions like: "why does your neck look like a turkey?" help you realize the aging process is moving along. They are not subtle or "politically correct." It's refreshing!

In the gospel reading for today we hear that "Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him" and said of him: "Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him." (John 1:47)

If we are to be a follower of Jesus, who is truth itself, we need to take the challenge very seriously, that we too, like Nathanael, are consistent in our behavior. We might fool those around us for awhile, but eventually the truth comes out.




::: Joan of Jesus, OCDS
The Catholic Calendar
and Daily Meditation
 

 


Bkg. Courtesy of
Christian Backgrounds