What do you say to someone whom you knew was talking behind your back and saying something uncharitable about you? “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (v 46) says Nathanael when he is told by his companions that they have found the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. But this uncharitable comment does not receive the “expected” response that the possibly offended party would give. Instead, Jesus, when faced with Nathanael, praises him to high heavens: “Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him” (v 47). Contrary to Nathanael’s sarcastic question, Jesus’ declaration is charitable, to say the least. We can just imagine how changed, after a sense of shame and embarrassment, Nathanael would have been after that encounter. Unlike us, human beings, God only says and thinks of good things about us. His only concern is that we be with him forever. On the other hand, Nathanael must have become a changed person after that encounter; he would have become less judgmental of others. Love and forgiveness always soften the heart.

Gospel • John 1:43-51

Jesus decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter. 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 Israelite. 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 the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Paul's, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.