45 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.” 46 But Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him.” 48 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.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” 50 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.” 51 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.” (John 1:45-51) AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE LORD Much of what we know about the saint of today is what was written of him in the gospels. The Synoptics name him Bartholomew, son. His name is mentioned together with Philip when it is listed in the roster of apostles. However, the gospel reading for his feast comes from John, where he is named Nathanael which means “gift of God.” The conversation between Jesus and Nathanael—and that of Philip and him immediately preceding it—is worth remembering as a beautiful vocation story. From the little skepticism of the disciple to the “Come and see” from Philip, we see the encounter between the Lord and Nathanael, with Jesus himself presenting the disciple. “A true Israelite. No duplicity in him.” What more can one ask for? This naturally prompts Nathanael to ask how Jesus knew him. Jesus responds “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Then Nathanael believed. But how is this the conclusion? What was the fig tree all about? What was Nathanael doing under the fig tree? What do we usually do under the tree? Resting? Protecting ourselves from the heat? In the Bible, the fig tree is usually the symbol of an encounter. In this case it might be about Nathanael encountering the Lord, about having a profound religious experience, a mystical experience, so that when he was reminded about it by Jesus, he gave praise to him. He said: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” It was a proclamation of faith. Then he went on to follow Jesus—first as a disciple, then as an apostle. He saw things greater than what he saw under the fig tree. There was one point in our life when we received God’s call. That is our fig tree. Every day of our life we continually see many things far greater than what we have previously seen. May these be our inspiration to continually follow Jesus.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. Do I have any fig tree experience in life? What were the ciricumstances of this encounter with God?
2. What are the greater things that the Lord is showing me in my life as his disciple?
Lord, make my life always an experience of you!
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