Word to the Wise
Tuesday, August 24, 2021 - Aug. 24 - St. Bartholomew, Apostle
[Rev 21:9b-14 and John 1:45-51]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?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." [John]
The Gospel According to John gives the name "Nathanael" to the apostle who is otherwise named "Bartholomew" in the other gospels. The confusion of names should not distract us from the process that occurs in the encounter between Philip and Nathanael and then between Nathanael and Jesus. There is first the invitation and then the meeting.
Philip is motivated by his own encounter with Jesus to go and find a friend to tell him "the good news." Nathanael is blinded by his prejudice about Nazareth and skeptical that anyone as important as Philip describes could come from there. Philip's invitation is simple, "Come and see."
When Jesus "recognizes" Nathanael, Nathanael comes to faith: "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." Jesus chides Nathanael for being too easy to convince and promises greater things than the simple "recognition" exchange!
What is important is the role of Philip, acting as a true disciple, who brings Nathanael to faith: "Come and see!" In the "Farewell Discourse" at the last supper in this same gospel, Jesus prays not only for his disciples, but for those who will come to faith through the preaching of the disciples. [John 17:20] Many are the students I have met on campuses who came to faith because a friend invited them to "come and see." All of us as baptized Christians are called to that same challenge. AMEN