Word to the Wise
Friday, January 5, 2007 - St. John Neumann
[1 John 3:11-21 and John 1:43-51]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?"
It is very discouraging to receive something or meet someone really wonderful and rush to share it with someone you know only to have them say, "Big deal!" or "I never met anybody from that place I thought was worth knowing!" Nathanael appears to be deflating Philip's enthusiasm. Yet Jesus calls him a "true child of Israel." Perhaps Jesus sees beyond the skepticism to the heart of the man, because Nathanael's response to Jesus is enthusiastic once they meet! Is this the reason that we Catholics are rather notorious about not "sharing" our faith with others? Are we afraid that we'll get Nathanael's response? Is faith too personal or the fear of rejection so great that we find it difficult to do what Philip did? It's a good thing that enough people have overcome that fear through the ages, or we wouldn't be going to church at all! AME
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