If I were presented before Jesus, would he say that I am a true Israelite? That I lack duplicity? What an honor for Nathanael to be described this way, but can I say the same for myself? Do I conduct my life with honesty and humility, even when it might be inconvenient? When I think of honesty, the basic idea comes to mind of telling the truth when someone asks you a question, but it is more than that. It is being honest with oneself about who you are and how you interact with the world. It is letting the world see your faith and being unashamed of it.
Right before today’s Gospel reading, in John 1:43-26, Phillip sees something good (Jesus) and wants to bring his friend (Nathanael) to see Him. Phillip was unafraid to share his faith publicly and bring Nathanael to something good. We should hope to be like Phillip and share good things in our lives. While we do not all need to go out and bring people to church (though I think you should if you feel called to!), many of us could be more comfortable expressing our faith to others. I know there are situations in which I think to hide my religious jewelry or avoid bringing up my faith because I do not wish to encounter negativity or an awkward conversation. But when I do this, I am not being my honest self. Jesus did not shy away from bringing his faith to those who did not believe, or those who doubted. It is important to emphasize that doubting is a natural part of our faith! In this section of John, Nathanael himself doubts when he asks, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Really, he is asking if this Jesus fellow can be the Messiah because he was not supposed to come from Nazareth. But, very importantly, Nathanael went to see Jesus despite his doubts! This is why we need to consistently show up to church, even when we are struggling, perhaps especially when we are struggling. Jesus knew where he was at and met him there, which shocked Nathanael, but folks, He knows all of us from the very beginning to the very end of our lives! He is always with us, loving and guiding us. It is our job to pray and trust in his path, to recognize Him when He reveals Himself to us daily, and to be our honest selves whenever possible. In these ways, we may strive to live in the example Nathanael provided us.
Mirielle Mason
I am originally from Colorado, and ended up at Creighton for six years while I earned my PharmD in 2024. Immediately following pharmacy school, I got married and moved to the east coast to join my husband, who is in the marines. I am lucky to be working as a pharmacist in my field of choice: Long Term care. In my spare time I read, spend time outdoors, and care for our two cats and horse!
My time on campus was beautiful, yet also burdened by the pandemic. The roles I had in campus ministry were diminished due to the restrictions, and this weighed heavily on my heart. My choir director was so kind as to recommend me to write for Creighton Online Ministries as a replacement for the reflections I was supposed to be doing in my ministry. I am new to this specific ministry, but it has already taught me so much and brought me many blessings.
