Homily – Second Sunday after Epiphany, 14th January 2024

Reading: John 1:43-51

Introduction

Where are we in our faith journeys today?

The gospel lesson talks of a man by name Nathaniel whom Jesus saw under a fig tree. The fact that Philip who encountered Jesus runs to him declaring Yes he is the One we were waiting for suggest that they would have been struggling with the question- could this be the one ever since they heard of what happened at the baptism and of the testimony of the Baptist. Here is Nathaniel with all his doubts under a fig tree and Jesus sees him.

A God who sees is a good theme for the year. The God who sees people around trees in the Bible is an interesting study

God saw Adam and Eve behind the Tree of Hiding pointing at several people who are still hiding from God despite having warm relationship once but struggling with sin and its aftermath

God saw Elijah under the tree of despair pointing at several people who are fed up with life saying- enough is enough take away my life despite being actively engaged in mission

God saw Jonah under the tree of anger pointing at several people who were followed by God in their attempt to fleeing, protected by whales and junipers and are angry as they see the tree withering and heat affects their lives

God saw Zacchaeus above the tree of evading pointing at several people who want to see Jesus but would rather climb up the Sycamore hoping that he would not in turn see them.

And in this passage God saw Nathaniel under the tree of doubt

Context

Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Jesus whom the world was waiting for

All of us have formed our opinions about Jesus from what others have told us. If someone asks us who is this Jesus we could have come classic prototype answers. Beyond cliches they would all be correct but that does not mean that we have had a personal encounter with the one about whom we had been talking much.

Nathaniel heard from Philip two things about Jesus. One, Him about whom Moses in the law and the prophets wrote. Yes the Messiah we are all waiting for that the law and the prophets pointed at.

Two, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth- the humanity and ordinariness of Jesus as the one born in a humble home.

The natural query of Nathaniel is “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

Nazareth was a small insignificant town. It was neither a major city nor adjacent to any major city. No one would have expected something coming out of the smallness of the city. Nathaniel is yet to realise that the Master of the Universe is also the God of small things who cares for each small and insignificant ones.

Jesus the one who is full of positive affirmations

When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!”

Have you ever imagined if Jesus meets us today what would be one good thing Jesus would be saying about each one of us.

Jesus affirms two positive things about Nathaniel. He is truly an Israelite and he is one in whom there is no deceit, no guile, no hypocrisy. He is such an honest and straight forward person.

Positive affirmations about the other is so crucial and important in life. Every human being has something good and wonderful about them. You only need to have the eye to see that, identify that and have the courage and magnanimity to say it out aloud.

A positive word could be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud. Nothing is impossible- the word itself actually is I’m possible. You just read it the other way.

Each person is full of positives but wrapped and ribboned. Someone needs to untie the ribbon and unwrap it lest it remains an unopened gift under an unknown Christmas tree somewhere in oblivion. Let us learn to say positive things about others.

I remember a post card that once came during a tough situation which said – you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think. (AA Mine) and I am sure you will manage this situation well.

Jesus gives us a good model- say good things about others.

Jesus the one who sees us as we are in our struggles

Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

Jesus, this is the first time we are meeting but how do you know me and the answer of Jesus- I saw you under the fig tree

Yes before Philip came to you- I could see your struggles, your questions, your doubts, your anxieties.

God sees us as we are, loves us as we are and accepts us as we are. But by his grace, he does not leave us as we are (T. Keller)

God sees our heart, hears our cries, understands our struggles, appreciates our doubts, values our questions and when we are open, God affirms that in us there is no guile.

God who sees is a profound imagery in the Bible. It was Hagar who named God as the God who sees. In the parched wilderness, abandoned and unable to see the panting child as she cried out to God- she hears God calling her by name, opening a stream in the desert, comforting her and restoring her. She names God- El Roi- God who Sees.

That has been the experience of several people who went through wilderness experience and even when each one us go through situations very difficult to humanly handle in our personal and professional lives one of the greatest consolation is that through it all we have a God who SEES. We might surely be having doubts and questions as to why God is allowing all these in our lives. But then while that remains a mystery the hope is that Philip is soon coming inviting us COME AND SEE the one who has been SEEING you all these while and he is inviting you to the next phase of your life. Let us get going.

Jesus the one whom people perceives as is revealed to each

Nathanael replied,
“Rabbi,
you are the Son of God!
You are the King of Israel!”

Our perceptions about Jesus are defined by various factors. Some have a very fine Christian upbringing, well churched. Some have pious parents and grandparents who made sure that their Christian nurture was adequate. Some studied in schools where Religious Education was done by teachers who could make an impacts on kids, some had friends who did not hesitate to talk about Jesus, some were attracted to social media’s positive picturising of Jesus, some were influenced by books, movies or stories, some heard good narratives and testimonies of Jesus encounters of people, some had miraculous interventions with the divine.

Through these or many other ways we develop a perception about Jesus. Nathanael saw him as a religious teacher, the Son of God but in tune with the expectations of the masses reeling under the colonial Roman regime he perceived him as the coming King of Israel- their liberator and hope.

Jesus the one who promises deeper revelations and heavenly encounters.

Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

The first Jesus encounter is only a first step. There is a much deeper journey where we see greater mysteries revealed unto us one by one. Once you perceive the humanity of Jesus that would be the first step to perceive the ultimate divinity of Jesus. He promises- You will see heaven opened and angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. In the gospel of John it is interesting to note that Jesus’ term for self-reference was interestingly Son of Man used twelve times in the gospel. It is also worth noting that this phrase is not used by Paul, only four times outside the gospels (Acts 7:56, Hebrews 2:6, Revelations 1:13, 14:14) and is not used in the Apostles or Nicaean creeds.

What Nathaniel is offered is an invitation into the deeper realms of spirituality- into an encounter beyond the historic Jesus the person into the cosmic Jesus the Christ., into an encounter beyond the son of Joseph of Nazareth into the Son of God- the Messiah, the Redeemer of the Universe, into an encounter beyond an earthly king of Israel into the King of All Universe crowned in Glory and Eternity.

Conclusion

I would ask again- where are we in our spiritual journeys?

Hiding behind the tree when God comes seeking?

Sleeping under the tree saying enough is enough when God is waiting to touch us and say Rise Up and Eat you have miles to go and missions to accomplish

Angry under the tree complaining that the shade is gone and the heat is too much to handle?

Seeking up the Sycammore tree wanting to have a glimpse of Jesus who is passing by not expecting him to stop by, call you by name and say- Zachaeus come down I am staying at your home tonight

Or Like Nathanael struggling with questions under the fig tree very much in the radar of Jesus.

The Call of Philip is intended for each one of us- COME AND SEE.

Vinod Victor

14 January 2024