I have a special fondness for Philip who gave the Good News to Bartholomew, otherwise known as Nathaniel. I was part of the first group of men to be ordained to the Permanent Diaconate in 27 years in our diocese. I believe there was a lot of scrambling at the time to get this program started again. The one thing I do remember is that we were required to do 1,000 contact hours plus our studies to be ordained. I didn’t think at that time it would be possible. Remember this, if the Lord wants something done he can make it happen!
I like how Phillip explained to Bartholomew that Jesus showed how the Old Testament foretold that the Messiah would come. Not only that, but Philip wanted to take Bartholomew to meet Jesus. Bartholomew was not impressed. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Why in the world would he say something like that!? Because, Nazareth was known to be an insignificant place. There was nothing there that made it stand out among the people. I guess he thought the Messiah should come from someplace more important. (Remember the stable?)
Phillip finally convinced Bartholomew to go meet Jesus. When they arrived Jesus said “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” Wow! Can you imagine hearing Jesus say those words to you? Jesus knew the depths of Bartholomew’s heart before he even got there! “That’s nice,” you say. But wait! That means that He knows the depths of our hearts too! Maybe that sounds scary to us. “I’m ok with him knowing the good, but I don’t want him seeing the bad and the ugly!” That’s one reason why the Lord gave us the Sacrament of Confession, to reconcile us to him. It may seem like the closer we get to the Lord the more he reminds us of our sinful nature, but he is purifying us to be more like himself.
What a great God we have! He is always with us, ready to send help when we need it. Many times when we don’t get it it’s because we haven’t asked Him. Remember, Jesus doesn’t take away our free will. Sometimes I wish that that were not true! Have you ever asked the Lord for help in living in his will? I believe that a lot of us need His help. Just take a look at the world today and see how Christianity is being persecuted in many ways. The COVID fiasco has convinced a lot of people that watching the Mass on TV is sufficient or have stopped going to Mass all together. And over half of Catholics no longer believe in the true presence of Jesus, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Eucharist. Very sad!
Let us praise and thank him for all the blessings and graces that he continues to pour upon us. Amen?
Serving with joy!
Daily Reading
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading 1 Dt 4:1-2, 6-8 Moses said to the people:“Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decreeswhich I am teaching you to observe,that you may live, and may enter in and…
Saint of the Day
Saint Anna the Prophetess
Saint Anna the Prophetess recognized Jesus’s significance when many overlooked Him. She stood by Mary, embodying grace, guiding her during formative years.
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