SEPT. 29 FEAST OF THE ARCHANGELS SAINTS MICHAEL, GABRIEL AND RAPHAEL GOSPEL COMMENTARIES (Jn 1:47-51).
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.”
Gospel Commentary from the Navarre Bible, Commentary to the Gospel of St. Luke (with permission)
- 45-51 The Apostle Philip is so moved that he cannot but tell his friend Nathanael (Bartholomew) about his wonderful discovery (v.45).
- “Nathanael had heard from Scripture that Jesus must come from Bethlehem, from the people of David. This belief prevailed among the Jews and also the prophet had proclaimed it of old, saying: ‘But you, 0 Bethlehem, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler of Israel’ (Mic 5:2). Therefore, when he heard that he was from Nazareth, he was troubled and in doubt, since he found that the announcement of Philip was not in agreement with the words of the prophecy” (St John Chrysostom, Horn, on St John, 20, 1).
- A Christian may feel that, in trying to communicate his faith to others, these may raise difficulties. What should he do?
- What Philip did — not trust his own explanation, but invite them to approach Jesus personally: “Come and see” (v.46). In other words, a Christian should bring his fellow-men, his brothers, into Jesus’ presence through the means of grace which he has given them and which the Church ministers — frequent reception of the sacraments, and devout Christian practices.
- Nathanael, a sincere person (v.47), goes along with Philip to see Jesus; he makes personal contact with our Lord (v.48), and the outcome is that he receives faith (the result of his ready reception of grace, which reaches him through Christ’s human nature: v.49).
- As far as we can deduce from the Gospels, Nathanael is the first Apostle to make an explicit confession of faith in Jesus as Messiah and as Son of God. Later on St Peter, in a more formal way, will recognize our Lord’s divinity (cf. Mt 16:16). Here (v.51) Jesus evokes a text from Daniel (7:13) to confirm and give deeper meaning to the words spoken by his new disciple.
- v. 47: Click HERE and HERE.
VIDEO COMMENTARY
TOPIC: DO YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE A GUARDIAN ANGEL WATCHING YOU?
SEPT 29, 2020: HOLY MASS
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