Learning from the Scriptures

Today's Gospel, John 1:45-51, presents the calling of Nathaniel (St. Bartholomew) to become an apostle of the Lord.  God uses Philip to alert Nathaniel to his calling. Philip find Nathaniel under a fig tree and tells him that he and others "have found the one about whom Moses were in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth."  Nathaniel sarcastically asks: "Can anything good come from Nazareth?"  Philip does not get sucked into Nathaniel's sarcasm or dismissal but says to Nathaniel: "Come and see!"

Am I, in this passage, Nathaniel, one who does not mince words, who speaks his mind, who is forthright in speaking to others? Jesus sees the depth of Nathaniel's heart and introduces him as "a true child of Israel," one in whom there is "no duplicity."  How would Jesus describe you/me?  Nathaniel is amazed and says to Jesus: "How do you know me?"  Jesus responds: "Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree."  Jesus sees you and me wherever we are and  in whatever we are doing!  He knows us more than we know ourselves. As God, Jesus knows what we are thinking before we do and what we might say before we have said it!  God knows us through and through. We are a book, so to speak, in the process of being written and Jesus knows us cover to cover!  Are you/am I aware of this fact?

As with Nathaniel, Jesus uses other people to communicate God's will to us, or uses us to bring truths to other people's attention, truths which He wants people to know and to which He wants their response. Are we listening for God's messages sent to us through others and, also, do we allow God to use us to bring His message to other people?

Another very important fact to note in this Scripture passage is how Nathaniel is changed by His encounter with Jesus!  Immediately, he recognizes and acknowledges who Jesus is! His sarcastic, critical attitude is changed from "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" to a stance of appreciation and  awe: "Wow, look at the good coming from Nazareth!"  How am I, are you, changed in the presence of Jesus?

Jesus' Notices: Are We Ready?

Today is the feast of St. Matthew, an apostle and evangelist and also a former tax collector.  Tax collectors, in Jesus’ time, were despised and among the lowest of the low. They collected taxes for the Romans who occupied their land and took some of the proceeds for themselves. They might be likened today to those in public office or public service who are not about serving their constituents or being cooperative in creating policies that benefit the common good but are about lining their pockets and exploiting others for their personal gain.  Persons of this nature are, in the words of Scripture, building “their houses” on sand. When the winds and rains come, their “houses” will collapse.  They are the unwise stewards cheating their master and who, when the Son of Man comes in the dead of “night,”   are likely to be found wanting.

What about Matthew, then? The Gospel tells us, that, as Jesus passed by Matthew’s custom post, Jesus noticed him and said: “Follow me.”  Matthew’s heart was open to the Lord. Most likely he had heard of Him and had been pondering His teachings privately. He was ready and Jesus knew it. “Follow Me,” Jesus says. Matthew left the custom post and followed the Lord. Not only did he open his heart to Jesus, he also opened his home as well.  Jesus accepted Matthew’s openness and had a meal with Him and fellow tax collectors, persons in need of and open to conversion.

Are you and I ready? Are we waiting? Will we leave our “custom post,” that activity that is unjust, that is exploitative of others or by which we use another for our personal advantage? Are we ready to change our lives, to let go of that which shuts Jesus out of our lives? Are we ready to follow Jesus and become missionary disciples? Are we ready to carry out the purpose for which God created us, that is to become servants of others, messengers of His love and mercy and forgiveness, as Matthew did?