Word to the Wise
Friday, January 5, 2024 - Jan. 5
[1 John 3:11-21 and John 1:43-51]Jesus decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip, And Jesus said to him, "Follow me." ...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?" [John]
JANUARY 5 ST. JOHN NEUMANN, cssr
The gospel scripture for Thursday and Friday of this week speak of the calling of the first disciples. Certain words stand out in the story. The word "found" is repeated. Andrew "finds" Jesus by listening to John the Baptist and then goes and "finds" his brother Peter. Jesus goes to Galilee and "finds" Philip, who then "finds" Nathanael. Another phrase that is repeated is: "Come and see!" Nathanael's skepticism about Nazareth is overcome when he responds to Philip's words and goes to encounter Jesus.
Time and again in my pastoral experience, especially with college students, I have met students who came to church at the invitation of a roommate or someone he or she met in class and perhaps noticed an external detail like a cross or medal or even a rosary worn on the belt or just asking about weekend plans, which include going to Mass or an event at the Catholic student center. "Come and you will see." Pope Benedict XVI once commented that the church doesn't grow by proselytising, but by attraction. Some folks have no idea they are searching for something until they "find" it and wonder where it has been all their lives.
Pope Francis has been a champion of "encounter." What kind of Christian do others "find" in us? Can someone skeptical like Nathanael come to faith because we lived our faith in such a way that it can attract others. Do they "encounter" or "find" Jesus in us? Do we invite them to "come and see?" AMEN