This reflection will be posted soon.In the passage of the gospel for today we see Philip, who had already met Jesus and believed he was the Messiah, telling Nathanael (also known as Bartholomew) the good news. At first Nathanael does not believe Philip and gets a little sarcastic about Jesus’ home town. Phillip insists and invites Nathaniel to “come and see” (v. 46). When Nathanael meets Jesus personally and Jesus tells him the truth about him, Nathanael immediately believes and confesses “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” (v. 49). And Jesus promises Nathaniel he will witness great things.

What an amazing encounter!

I would like to invite us to do a guided contemplation of this passage united in spirit with the global community that reads these daily reflections.

1.  Let’s take a moment to calm down, let’s take a few deep breaths and become aware that we are, as always, in the presence of God.
2. Let’s pray: Dear Lord, we ask you that all our intentions, actions and operations may be directed solely to your praise and service. Help us use our senses and our imagination to encounter you and believe, like Nathaniel did.
3. Let’s read today’s gospel passage one more time.
4. Imagine the place:
1. What do the physical surroundings look like? The street? Are there trees? Other plants? What’s the whether like?
5. Imagine the scene:
1. We place ourselves in this scene: imagine I am are Nathaniel.
2. Where exactly am I? Is it crowded? What do the people look like? What are they doing? Are there any animals? What are they doing?
3. What am I doing when Philip finds me?
4. What do I hear around me? Is it noisy or quiet?
5. What does it smell like?
6. We hear Philip’s words again: “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law,
   and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” (v. 45) How do I react? Am I sarcastic too? In what way? What are my barriers or preconceptions that prevent me from believing Philip?
7. How do I react? What do I feel? Why is it that I give it a chance and go with Philip anyway?
6. I meet Jesus! What happens in my mind? What happens in my heart? We read verses 47 to 51 again and stay there, savor those words, ask Jesus all the questions we have for him, express all our concerns to him. I listen to Jesus’ words to me.
7. I end this exercise thanking God for the gift of godself to me: Jesus, the Christ, our Lord!

It is my prayer that after having encountered Jesus intimately in prayer with Scripture, we are encouraged to encounter and welcome Jesus in our lives in the poor, the sick, the ignorant, the weak… because I believe that through these encounters we will witness great things.