There is no duplicity in Him

REFLECTIONS TODAY

Jesus makes this unusual compliment to Nathanael upon seeing him for the first time. No one has ever made a comment like this. How did Jesus know him? Jesus does not take offense at Nathanael’s question, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (Jn 1:46), when Philip reports to him that they have found him whom the Torah and Prophets talk about. Nathanael is just asking a familiar question posed by his fellow Galileans. Nazareth was an insignificant place, a sleepy town. Nathanael proves to be without duplicity. He can readily affirm who Jesus is when he feels something in his heart, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel” (v 49). For this, Jesus promises that he will be seeing greater things. Duplicity clouds our minds from knowing Jesus. Therefore, we must purify ourselves from evil thoughts and biases in order to recognize him in the Church, in the sacraments, and in the poor.
 

Gospel • John 1:47-51 
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. 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 heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.