Reflection for Monday August 24 Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle: John 1:45-51

Gospel: John 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.”

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Have we shared our faith and friendship with Jesus?

If we have, well and good. Let us continue sharing Jesus and, through Him, helping to transform and save lives. We may not see worldly rewards for what we do for Jesus now, nor may we receive recognition or appreciation from others. But we can be certain that someday, we will receive from Him a reward beyond anything we can comprehend.

Time and again, we have heard personal testimonies about how Jesus has restored wayward lives—transforming lives that once seemed empty and without direction into lives filled with purpose and meaning. We have heard stories of people who were once trapped in sin but, through the grace and mercy of Jesus, found forgiveness, freedom, and a new way of life.

These stories remind us that no life is ever too broken for Jesus to restore and no heart is ever too far for His love to reach. Sometimes, all it takes is for someone to courageously introduce another person to Jesus, to share a word of encouragement, to tell a personal story of faith, or simply to show Christ's love through a kind and selfless act.

In our Gospel, Philip was on fire for Jesus. His heart was filled with excitement because he had found the One whom the Scriptures had promised. He could not keep this wonderful discovery to himself. He immediately went to his friend Nathanael and said, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth” (John 1:45).

What a beautiful example for all of us! Philip did not keep Jesus to himself. He shared Him with someone he cared about. His encounter with Jesus naturally overflowed into an invitation for another person to come and see.

Our faith, love, and friendship with Jesus become more alive, meaningful, and fruitful when we share them with others. When we speak about what Jesus has done in our lives and allow His love to shine through our words and actions, we become beacons of His light. Through us, others may discover hope when they are discouraged, strength when they are weak, forgiveness when they are burdened by sin, and a renewed sense of purpose when they feel lost.

We may sometimes think that our simple words or humble acts of kindness are insignificant. But we should never underestimate what Jesus can do through our little acts of faith. A simple invitation to pray, a sincere conversation, a word of encouragement, or our willingness to listen may become the very instrument Jesus uses to touch and transform someone's life.

Perhaps we have not yet shared Jesus with others because we are afraid—afraid that they might reject us, misunderstand us, or think that we are being too religious. But let us remember Philip. He simply shared what he had discovered. He did not force Nathanael; he invited him to encounter Jesus for himself.

Let us do the same. We do not need perfect words or extraordinary abilities to share Jesus. We only need a willing heart, a genuine love for others, and the courage to say, through our words and lives, “Come and see.”

When we share Jesus, we become instruments through whom others may experience His love, hope, mercy, and transforming grace. And when we help lead others toward Christ, we may discover that our own friendship with Him grows deeper and our faith becomes stronger.

Let us therefore not keep Jesus only within the walls of our churches or within the privacy of our prayers. Let us bring Him into our homes, workplaces, friendships, communities, and everyday encounters. Let our lives become living testimonies of His goodness and mercy.

Who among the people around us might be waiting for someone like Philip to introduce them to Jesus—and are we willing to be that person today?—Marino J. Dasmarinas