From the archives for the feast of St Bartholomew. I’m reflecting on Jesus’ encounter with Nathanael. It’s clear that the encounter was as life changing as it was unexpected for Nathanial. He is somewhat underwhelmed with Phillips’ news that the expected Messiah is from Nazareth, questioning whether anything good can come from that place.
However, despite this uncertainty, he is unable to resist Phillips’ invitation to “come and see” for himself. It’s this openness and willingness to take a risk that enables him to be embrace the life changing encounter that follows. When he does come to Jesus it is with a question:
“How do you know me?“
Jesus’ answer seems commonplace enough:
‘I saw you under the fig tree.’
Yet it is this apparently ordinary answer that enabled him to put aside his doubts and recognise the long-awaited Messiah: “
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel.’
The passage makes me aware of how we long to be known and accepted as we really are. We long to recognise Christ in our lives, and for him to recognise us. It is both comforting and challenging to discover that Christ knows us better than we know ourselves.
It’s comforting because it means that with Jesus I can be completely myself, without pretence, knowing that I will be accepted completely as I am. It’s challenging because of the things that I would rather keep hidden, those times when I don’t live up to my best self, that Jesus invites me to bring out into the open, into the light of his love.
Where is Christ surprising you with his presence today?