Reflection for Monday September 29 Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels: John 1:47-51

Gospel: John 1:47-51

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.”

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Reflection:

Do you think about God when you are alone? Many of us are forced to think about Him when we encounter bumps and humps in our lives. But do we take time to truly contemplate God when we are not troubled by any problems? Only a few of us, perhaps, do this. 

What was Nathanael doing under the fig tree? Was he contemplating God? Was he praying and asking for His guidance? Nathanael was reflecting on God while he sat under the fig tree; he was silently asking the Lord to reveal Himself. Then, not long after, the call of Jesus came. 

When we think of God often, our hearts and minds slowly but surely begin to form a clearer picture of who He is. We start to understand His identity and the role He plays in our lives. To many of us, God may seem distant. But is it really God who is far away, or is it us who distance ourselves from Him? 

The truth is, Jesus is never distant from us; He is always present, always waiting, always loving. It is we who often fail to give Him our time, our attention, and our hearts—except when we are in great need. 

What if today you choose to seek God not only in moments of struggle but also in moments of peace? Will you make space in your daily life to contemplate His presence and allow Him to reveal Himself more deeply to you? – Marino J. Dasmarinas