Reflection for Friday January 5, Saint John Neumann (M): John 1:43-51

Gospel: John 1:43-51

Jesus decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter. 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 the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

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Reflection:

Jesus said to Philip: Follow me, such powerful words coming from Jesus. Thus, Philip could do nothing except to humbly follow the Messiah. This is the reason why Philip became one of the twelve apostles, he was called by Jesus.   

What if Jesus would call you to follow Him, would you respond to His call? 

Follow where? Follow Him in His humility, follow Him in His perseverance, follow Him in His being a man for others. Follow Him in His gentleness and follow Him in His humble obedience to the will of God. 

These powerful words of Jesus echoes until this very moment and it is not anymore addressed to Philip but to us! He gently tells us to follow Him; many have said yes and followed Jesus already. 

Many have forsaken their material riches, high society status and power for the sake of Jesus. Why? Because at last they found the one that will finally cure their emptiness and brokenness. Emptiness and brokenness which they thought could be filled up by their riches and power but it never did. 

Many of us are still chasing after riches, earthly things and power at what cost and for what? When we are at our deathbeds riches and power will not anymore matter what will matter is the relationship that we have with Jesus. 

Even now the riches and power that we are chasing will never complete us it will even exacerbate our emptiness. – Marino J. Dasmarinas