Nathanael was surprised when Philip told him that Jesus of Nazareth was “the one whom Moses wrote about.” Nathanael may already have had some initial and incomplete knowledge about Jesus. Like Nathanael, many of us may tend to be judgmental and dismissive while only having a limited understanding of other people, their culture or background. I am guilty of this. Sometimes I can be judgmental just based on the behavior of a person. I would feel disappointed when a person’s attitude does not meet my expectations.

When I was still working, I had a colleague who would always arrive late in the office. Her tardiness somehow contributed to delayed submission of requirements from our team. This went on for a while until one day at lunch time, she told us her story. How she must attend to the needs of her children first before she could leave for work. At that moment, I felt ashamed of myself because I was irate towards this person who was actually doing her best as a mother and would work tirelessly for her family.

Sometimes we speak out bluntly and openly, too straight-forward that we do not care anymore about people’s feelings or the circumstances they are in. Sometimes we tend to be judgmental or we lean towards our biases when dealing with people and looking at certain situations. The invitation from Philip to Nathanael to “come and see” is also an invitation for us. To “come” to the needs of others and “see” what they may be going through. Some people in our midst might be fighting silent battles that we do not know about. The Gospel challenges me to grow in kindness, generosity, and understanding towards others, for anyone may be going through some hardships and struggles that I may not be aware of.

By: Sem. Nico Jay Z. del Mundo

Today’s Gospel

Jn 1:45-51

Philip found Nathanael and told him,
“We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law,
and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”
But Nathanael said to him,
“Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
“Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him.”
Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
Nathanael answered him,
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this.”
And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened and the angels of God
ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”