Devotional thoughts for the second Sunday after Denaha - 20th Jan 2013
Reading: From the Gospel according to St. John 1: 43- 51
Dear and Respected Brethren,
As soon as Lord Jesus called St, Philip of Beth Saida, the city of St. Andrew and St. Peter, there came a tremendous change in him. He became efficient to realize who Lord Jesus was in fact. This truth is visible from his words to Nathaniel, (Vs. 45) “Philip finds Nathaniel and says unto him, we have found him of whom Moses in the law and the Prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth.” From this two things are clear,
1) St. Philip belonged to a group of people who were in search of Jesus of Nazareth. St. Peter said: “We have found.” Finding someone or something happens only after a purposeful attempt and research. It is true that there were many who remained in prayer and meditation expecting and waiting for the redeemer and savior of Israel. And of course St. Philip also belonged to such a blessed group. It is a truth that there were thousands and thousands of faithful waiting for the arrival of the Savior, even after the incarnation of our Lord. They used to remain in the shades of trees in the compound of Jerusalem temple. The Holy Church still honors St. Simeon and St. Hanna on 1st Feb every year, the day of our Lord’s first entry to the Jerusalem temple as an infant. These two represent all the faithful who remained in great expectation of the Savior from the time of Adam and Eve till the incarnation of our Lord, belonging to various generations after generations.
2) St. Philip had a thorough knowledge about the Holy Scriptures. We often underestimate the Apostles as almost all were fishermen and we assume that they were illiterate. Our assessment is totally wrong. Almost all had good knowledge of the teachings of their forefathers as well as they were well versed in the Holy Scriptures. So we cannot address them as illiterate ones.
St. Philip told St. Nathaniel “come and see.” (It is to be believed that he was one among the 12 Apostles, who was generally known in another name. We find him as Nathaniel again in St. John 21: 2) It proves that within a short span of time itself, St. Philip built up a strong faith about the one who called him to a new mission. He was so confident who Lord Jesus was and that is why he could invite Nathaniel to come and see. As far as we are concerned we need not wait for the Savior to come as He has already incarnated, lived on earth, had the Public Mission, established the Sacraments for the salvation of the future generations including us, died on the cross for the remission of our sins, rose from the dead, granting life after life to the entire mankind, and lives in heaven. But we are supposed to wait for the Holy Spirit and its fullness in our personal lives as well as in the Sacraments. We all are supposed to wait for the Holy Spirit and we have to pray for the blessing of having the fullness of it. As we have tasted God by accepting the Savior’s flesh and blood often, we must be confident about our Lord God. Are we confident like St. Philip? How many of us could invite our friends to the divine presence of Lord Jesus, by saying come and see? Let us think. Let us build up our confession and conviction strong and solid.
When Nathaniel approached our Lord there echoed a great compliment from our Lord: “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guilt.” What sort of appreciation was it? What a blessing? How many of us could have such an appreciation from our Lord God? Our Lord promised Nathaniel: “Hereafter you will see heaven open. May God be pleased in our lives and grant us opportunity to witness great and unique experiences, as enjoyed by the blessed Apostles.
May God bless us all.
JoseKurian Puliyeril
Kottayam.