Can Any Good Thing Come Out Of A Place That Is Regarded As Nothing

1 John 3:11-21
John 1:43-51

There is a curious little twist to the story of Nathaniel’s calling ( Bartholomew). As Jesus went about calling his first disciples, Philip went and told Nathaniel “we have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth,” Nathanael wants nothing to do with it. He rebuffs his friend, saying, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”

Like Philip, do you spread the word of God through love and with joy as God commands? Or like Nathaniel, are you the one when someone shares the word of God with you and his plan for you, you feel dismissive, or perhaps indifferent? God offers us a world where we can find love, by loving others. Where we can find compassion by being compassionate. Where we can find peace by sharing His peace. And yet we turn away to build up our pride and selfishness.

Philip gently prods him, “Come and see.” And, to his credit, Nathanael does not let his preconceived notions get in his way of following his friend’s request. He follows Philip and meets Jesus and he is amazed at what he finds. We too are called to follow God’s plan for us and to fulfill the Christian mission he has placed on our shoulders. Of course, not that any of us know God’s plan in any detail, but with a well-formed consciousness, you can usually tell when you’re slipping.

What happened next in the story is so amazing! As Nathaniel approaches Jesus, Christ tells him who he is ‘Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” in order words, a man without deceit”. How astonishing it was to have received a loving recommendation from God himself. Most times, people speak of the negative aspects of human lives rather than give thanks to God and appreciate the gift of others. Do you appreciate and acknowledge the gifts of God in you and others?

Puzzled by these words of acknowledgment, Nathaniel asked Jesus “How he knew him? And Christ takes him beyond the course and set his mind straight ahead with his mission and glory, 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.”

There is a Bethlehem, where our love and charity should go to pay homage to Christ. There is a Nazareth where our goodness and compassion should get to for God’s name to be glorified. There is a Galilee we must get to and retrace ourselves back again if need be. There is a situation of nothingness and lack in our lives that might be holding us back; slums and lukewarmness in our lives, the impossible angles the unusual and uncertain with insignificance but as we see and testify, “ WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.’

He accepted the sacrifice of Abel, He accepted the sacrifice of Noah, he accepted the sacrifice of Moses. He accepted the promise of Jephthah who offered his daughter as a gift to God for the sake of the victory of Israel. He received Samuel from his mother as a child of promise and made him the greatest judge of his time. He received the sacrifice of David and his Son Solomon making their dynasty to last forever. From exile, he accepted the prayers of his people and restored them to their place and He was born of the virgin and ultimately accepted the sacrifice of his only begotten son, our Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ.

Over centuries in the history of the Church, we cannot count the sacrificial offerings made by saints and people of God but that cannot compare to the holy sacrifice of the Mass. This is the once and for all sacrifice that redeems us. The sacrifice of Christ on the cross, which we receive daily from the altar.

Is there anything impossible that God cannot do for you? There is nothing impossible that God cannot do. We are immense in Him. He abides in us let our abode with him Christ is asking you also today, What do you want? Come and see!

Fr Joseph Osho