Come and see

Sisters and brothers in Christ, today (8/24) is the feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle.

We can learn from the exchange between Philip and Nathanael in today's Gospel in our efforts to lead others to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Nathanael was skeptical, saying "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Looking at it in another way, someone can wonder: "Why do I need God in my life?" Or "Why do I need to go to Mass?"

Philip's response is perfect, "Come and see." It is an invitation to encounter God, to get to know Jesus, and to become a part of the Body of Christ - the Church. "Come" with an open heart and "see" the wonders of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. "Come" to Mass and "see" the miracle of the Eucharist, when heaven and earth meet, where Christ is truly present in our midst. I am blessed to have experienced this many years ago when my wife invited me to "come and see" those many years ago.

We can be Philip to the Nathanael in our lives so that they too can encounter God and experience His love and mercy in their own lives.

. . .

Gospel of the Day

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.”