“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”
Wednesday, 24th August 2016,
Twenty First Week of Ordinary Time
Feast of St. Bartholomew, Apostle
Rev 21: 9-14;
Ps 144: 10-13, 17-18;
Jn 1: 45-51
COME AND SEE: ENCOUNTERING JESUS!
Today the Church rejoices in celebrating the feast of St. Bartholomew. He is also known as Nathanael and was one of Christ’s twelve apostles. He was a missionary with Philip and Thomas. He is said to have preached the Gospel in Armenia, India, Persia and Phrygia.
In today’s Gospel we see how Philip takes Nathanael to Jesus to have the experience of Messiah. So what kind of proof did Philip offer to Nathanael? Rather than argue with his friend, Philip took the wiser strategy of inviting Nathanael to “come and see” for himself who this Jesus claimed to be. Philip knew that an encounter with the person of Jesus Christ can change one’s life forever. When people are receptive to the word of Christ and when they see his love in action, the Lord Jesus himself, through the power of the Holy Spirit, touches their hearts and opens their minds to God’s revelation.
When Philip brought Nathanael to Jesus, Jesus did something which only God could do! He opened Nathanael’s heart and his innermost thoughts and desires to God’s revelation. Nathanael knew the scriptures; he had read the law and the prophets and was waiting for the fulfillment of God’s promises to his people Israel. Nathanael was an earnest seeker of God. He not only sought to grow in understanding of God’s word, but he sought an intimate personal relationship with God as well. That is why he was willing to meet Jesus, to see if perhaps this miracle worker from Galilee might be the long-awaited Messiah and Savior.
God places in every heart a desire and intimate yearning to personally know the One who created us in love for love. We too are invited to have a personal experience with Jesus. Let’s try to experience him in our day today life and let us be his true witnesses.
Prayer: Jesus reveal yourself to me that I may experience you in my daily life. Amen.
Copyright ©2013-2016 ©JoyCat, Joy of the Catholic Life: see www.joy-cat.blogspot.com.
