GOSPEL POWER l AUGUST 24, 2022 - WEDNESDAY

Saint Bartholomew, Apostle

Gospel: Jn 1:45-51 

45Philip 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.” 46Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good  come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47When  Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is  truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” 48Nathanael asked him,  “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under  the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you  are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50Jesus answered, “Do  you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You  will see greater things than these.” 51And 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.” 

The Good News is not only an idea that can be argued,  but a person who desires to meet us and reveal himself  to us. That is why effective evangelization does not stop at  words but opens the way for the encounter to happen. Today’s Gospel  episode is a beautiful illustration of this. Philip shares his faith with  his friend Nathanael (Bartholomew’s Hebrew name in the Gospel of  John), not in persuasive speech but through the simple invitation  “Come and see.” Philip knows that his part is simply to give Nathanael  the nudge, for only Jesus can make the seeing part possible; only Jesus  can open the eyes of his friend’s heart. The prejudices that block  Nathanael’s seeing can only be healed by the grace of metanoia that  will move him beyond his stubborn mindset. At this point Philip, the  evangelizer-friend humbly stands back and allows God’s grace to do  the work. 

Lord Jesus, we thank you for the persons who have played the role of Philip  in our life and paved the way for us to encounter you. Bless them. Amen.