Tag: Nathanael

“You are the Son of God.” | Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle

From the responsorial psalm: “Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you. Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom and speak of your might. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 1:45-51)

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.”

When Philip tells Nathanael (known as the apostle Bartholomew) that they have found the Messiah, Nathanael is skeptical, saying, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip then gives him this simple invitation: “Come and see.” When Nathanael approaches Jesus, Jesus recognizes the virtue in him as one who is free from duplicity, or deceit. Nathanael is surprised and asks how Jesus knows him. Jesus tells him that he saw him under the fig tree before Philip called him. This then leads Nathanael to proclaim Jesus as the Son of God and the King of Israel. Jesus responds by saying that Nathanael will witness heaven opened and angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. The simple invitation of Philip to come and see the Lord leads Nathanael to see firsthand the glorious splendor of God’s kingdom.

God, just as Philip called Nathanael, help me recognize the simple invitations I hear throughout the day to come to you. Help me approach the day not with skepticism and knowingness but with childlike faith that you see me at all times and call me to witness you in your glory. Lord, take the limited vision I have of doing your will and bless me with every grace I need to accomplish it. Nathanael recognized Jesus as your Son. As I approach the Eucharist and as the day unfolds, help me do the same.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“You will see greater things than this.” | Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 1:43-51)

Nathanael said to [Jesus], “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.”

Phillip invites his fellow townsman Nathanael to meet Jesus, but Nathanael initially voices skepticism, questioning Jesus’ divine identity. He is “son of Joseph, from Nazareth,” Philip tells Nathanael. Jesus responds to Nathanael’s skepticism with a display of divine knowledge, revealing that he was aware of Nathanael’s presence under a fig tree, to which Nathanael confesses Jesus as the Son of God and the King of Israel. “You will see greater things than this,” Jesus tells Nathanael. “You will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Aware of the innermost intentions of his disciples, and of all people, Jesus calls each of us by name to follow him and remain with him.

God, I look to you with hope in your mercy that you judge me not by external appearances—as I tend to judge others—but by who I am. You know me more intimately than I know myself. Help me recognize in Nathanael’s first encounter with Jesus that you also know me by name, you call me to follow you, and that faith is necessary to know you and move beyond appearances. What are the tasks you hand to me today? Whatever they are, make clear to me your will; give me the grace to me be a means of your justice and mercy. As Saint John says in the first reading: “Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.”

From the first reading: “Now this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth and reassure our hearts before him in whatever our hearts condemn, for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in God.” Saint John Neumann, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 1:47-51)

Jesus answered and said to Nathanael, “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.”

Jesus meets Nathanael and acknowledges his sincere character. “Here is a true child of Israel,” Jesus says. “There is no duplicity in him.” Nathanael is surprised by Jesus’ insight about him and recognizes Him as the Son of God and the King of Israel. Jesus assures Nathanael that he will see even greater things through the Son of Man—the angels of God ascending and descending on him. Nathanael is at first impressed with what Jesus is able to see about him. “How do you know me?” he asks Jesus. What Nathanael is able to recognize about Jesus’ divinity is strictly limited to earthly knowledge. Jesus invites Nathanael to see with the eyes of faith, to see as the prophet Daniel sees: “[God’s] dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.”

Father in heaven, you see me as I am and not as I see myself or others. Yet, it is not your will that we are limited to seeing only appearances and physical reality. Help me see as Jesus desired Nathanael to see—beyond outward appearances and into the mystery of your divine presence that suffuses every ordinary moment of the day and that the angels witness unceasingly. That requires faith, the kind of faith Nathanael had when he exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Lord, grant me the grace of quiet, unshaken faith in your dominion, your glory, and your kingship. I believe; help my unbelief!

From the responsorial psalm: “I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth; in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise; I will worship at your holy temple and give thanks to your name.” Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, guide and defend us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.