The angel spoke to me, saying, "Come
here. I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." … The wall of (Jerusalem)
had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the
twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.
(Revelations 21:9-14)
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."
(John 1:45-48)
Piety
God
of sizzling suns. God of quieting
moons. Grant that I may grow into your
true child. May I, too, live without
duplicity oriented only to you. Jesus
may your summons capture and guide me.
Holy Spirit may I shine so that the light of your Truth is seen before
others.
Study
Like
millions of Americans, I was thrilled to watch the eclipse. For many of us, an eclipse is another sign of
God breaking through and sharing with us the immensity of creation. All day, leading up to the event I felt as if
the day was special. Even the ordinary
tasks of my day seemed to be full of special significance as if God was drawing
closer through celestial alignment. My visits
to hospice patients that day had an import even if they were not cognizant or
interested…God’s face was shining in a unique way upon each of them, upon me,
and our human frailties bound us together under God’s grandeur. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to hold on to such
an awareness of wonder, of God’s immanent presence?
Reading
Nathaniel’s (Bartholomew’s) words, “Can
anything good come from Nazareth?" made me smile. My impatience with a badly working laptop and
my anxiety over traffic as well as tired frustration because of duties calling
soon returned in my day. “Can anything
good come from…” is too often my state of mind rather than gratitude and
reverent fear for the presence of God at hand.
But then Jesus’ unexpected words of truth and acceptance captured
Nathaniel. Jesus sees beyond the
small-mindedness in Nathaniel’s heart and offers him awe. God does the same for us with each breath we
take.
Action
Tradition
has it that Bartholomew is Nathaniel and that before being martyred he brought
the Word to many areas of the ancient world.
Each day take the opportunity to recognize a wonder God places in front
of you. If it is a person, lift her/him
up. If a problem, seek a solution. If a new insight, resolve to be aware. If merely a moon hiding the face of the
sun…Rejoice and be glad!
Illustration: from
Madras, OR
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