DAILY GOSPEL, COMMENTARY AND TIPS.
Jan. 5. “Follow me.”
GOSPEL
Jn 1:43–51
Jesus decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter. 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 the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
COMMENTARY
- FROM NAVARRE BIBLE: “Follow me” is what Jesus usually says to all his disciples (cf. Mt 4:19; 8:22; 9:9). During Jesus’ lifetime, his invitation to follow him implied being with him in his public ministry, listening to his teaching, imitating his lifestyle, etc. Once the Lord ascended into heaven, following him obviously does not mean going with him along the roads of Palestine; it means that “a Christian should live as Christ lived, making the affections of Christ his own, so that he can exclaim with St Paul: ‘It is now no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me’” (J. Escrivá, Christ is passing by, 103). In all cases our Lord’s invitation involves setting out on a journey that is, it requires one to lead a life of striving always to do God’s will even if this involves generous self-sacrifice.
TIPS
- Before acting, let us try to ask ourselves: “What would Jesus do in this situation?” In this manner, we could identify ourselves with Christ.
- In matters of good and evil, let us choose what our right reason and God’s Will tell us and not that which our feelings impel us to do.
A great day ahead and God bless!
Fr. Rolly Arjonillo
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