John 1:43-51
NRSV
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
REFLECTIONS:
Nathaniel has this kind of snarky or jaded question about Jesus’ origins (we’ve all had those feelings about a town or place that carries with it a certain stereotype). I really love Philip’s response to his friend, a response he likely learned from his Rabbi’s ‘follow me.’ There’s not a need to argue, explain or apologize for Jesus; he simply says, “Come and see,” and lets Jesus speak for himself. Sometimes I get wrapped up in feeling like I have to have the right answers, stand up for something, or succumb to pressure to conform. Instead, here I see a friend offering an invitation, and then walking alongside in discovery. In that sense, both get to have an experience, both making their own discoveries… together.
PRACTICE:
Outward Mindset Application
Philip greeted his friend’s question with “Come and see” instead of answering his question. Is there a relationship in your life right now where you could respond in this way, rather than with answers?
Pathways toward Centeredness
Contemplatives: (Loving God through Adoration)
Randomly stop during a moment at work or during your day, and picture a loving God watching your movements or listening to your conversation. Imagine him seeing you, loving you completely, as you care for others or the task before you.
Questions for Reflection
St. Ignatius is famous for asking, “Do you let yourself be looked at by the Lord?” Some might be uncomfortable with that. Understandable. Also, 1 John 4:7-21 talks about how God is love. Imagine that is true, and allow yourself to be seen by Love. How might this make you feel? How could this help you see others?
“Liturgy” refers to the habits and practices humans use to form community around shared values and meaning. At Church at the Park, we desire to be a community of practice, becoming people who see the world through the eyes of the marginalized, making meaning through the lens of pain and suffering, and committing ourselves to non-violence in a wounded world. This weekly email is intended to provide pathways of practice for becoming the type of people who embody these values.
Many of our reflections on each week's text come from other sources. If you're interested in reading more of what inspires us, here our our two favorite reflections.
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