💖 HOMILY - JANUARY 5 💖

First Reading - 1 John 3:11-21

Gospel - John 1:43-51

In order to achieve and find something, we need to become seekers. It's in our earnest and passionate seeking, we can certainly find what we desire. The readings of the day invite us to become honest seekers of God and this seeking will bring us to God's beatific vision.

The gospel of the day narrates the call of Nathaniel (Bartholomew or 'son of Tholomay'). We chance upon some important characteristics of this apostle of Jesus: firstly, he was a genuine seeker. This we can decipher from the sentence of Jesus - "... I saw you under the fig tree." This sentence refers to his studying of the Torah (Law) under the tree because sometimes rabbi used to instruct a small group of people under the fig tree. Secondly, he was a true and faithful Jew that's why Jesus speaks of him:"There, truly, is an Israelite in whom there is no deception." Thirdly, he grows from scepticism to faith in Jesus; when he told about Jesus he responds:"Can anything good come from Nazareth?" But sooner the same Nathaniel acknowledges realising the supernatural knowledge of Jesus:"Rabbi, you are the son of God." (Meaning you are the Messiah). 

The characteristics of Nathaniel are interesting. He projects a true face of a Jew or the one seeking God genuinely in his or her life. Historically speaking, it was not easy in the beginning to know the true Messiah because many claimed to be the Messiah even before Jesus appeared but all failed. Hence the claim of Jesus to be the Messiah from Nazareth (as Scriptures mentions Bethlehem not Nazareth as the birth place of Messiah and Jesus was known to be from Nazareth) met with scepticism by Nathaniel. However, he comes to faith in Jesus after encountering him. Faith of Nathaniel finds definitive place in Jesus. His seeking completes in Jesus.

In the first reading, John teaches us that, as children of God the Father, we are members of God’s own family, and, as such, we are expected to obey the greatest commandment of God, “Love one another,” so that we may remain united to God in the Holy Spirit. The exhortation of John also reminds us that our seeking of God is effected in our relationship with one another. We are social and connected with one another in our journey to God, therefore, our loving relationship with one another helps us achieve our purpose together.

Dear friends, we need to remain true seekers of God. Nathaniel exhibited genuineness in seeking God and what kept him faithful is his eagerness to know and observe the Torah. We are Christians and our faithfulness to our faith is important and this faithfulness is reinforced by our learning, obeying and practicing the word of God. The first reading underlines what distinguishes us as children of God is the observance of the commandment enshrined in the word of God, particularly the commandment of love. 

We hear in the gospel, how Nathaniel was guided by Philip who recognised in Jesus the awaited Messiah and guided Nathaniel to approach Jesus, as a result of it, he met the Messiah. In our Catholic Church, we have our spiritual guides (bishops, priests, elders etc.) who have lived their faith and continue to live with their personal experience of Jesus, we can approach them for guidance and assistance in knowing God personally. This will certainly help us encounter Jesus in our lives.

May God help us become genuine seeker of Him, so that we may find Him.