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Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: John 1:47-51

 

“Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Interestingly in this verse right before our Gospel passage, Nathanael practically blurts out to Phillip what is on his mind. So why would Jesus consider Nathanael an authentic and faithful Israelite?

As was the teaching at the time, the Messiah was not to come from Nazareth and most certainly not have been of such lowly birth. So here, we see that Nathanael was not being criticized for his candidness but rather praised for his willingness to engage in conversation and being amendable to change. Finding neither hypocrisy or guile, Jesus knew the character and heart of Nathanael. Nathanael, in turn, was open to recognize when God was calling him to a new way and willing to align his will to God’s will.

At different times in our lives we too might wish to remain hidden, resting secure in the correctness of our beliefs and direction of our lives. Meanwhile, to our surprise, Christ having spied us under our “fig tree" invites us to transformation and into relationship with Him. Far easier to sit contented in the known, it is here we realize that we never truly had all the answers to begin with. So too, we may realize that while God knows us we may not know and love Him as we should.

With Phillip’s invitation to “Come and see” is a challenge to see things differently. For only in seeking to leave behind our presuppositions and prejudices, do we begin to move beyond our limitations to learn, trust and walk by faith. And still this new perspective also allows us to then glimpse, advocate for and perhaps even minister to those around us. Healed of our spiritual blindness, we like Nathanael are promised to witness far greater miracles through the gift of salvation.

 

Ponder:

 

Am I willing today to cut ties and walk away from the known and my way of thinking to embrace the new vision and life that God has in store for me?

 

Pray:

 

Jesus, you alone know the recesses of my heart- the secrets, fears, assumptions, and prejudices that I may be holding onto. Help me to take on your vision and will leaving behind any way of thinking that is keeping me from following you fully today.


Click to tweet:
Only in seeking to leave behind our presuppositions and prejudices, do we begin to move beyond our limitations to learn, trust and walk by faith.
#dailygospel

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