Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth

 

Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip answered, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said, “Here is a true Israelite, a man without deceit.” 48 Nathanael asked, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered, “Before Philip called you, I saw you while you were under the fig tree.” 49 Nathanael answered, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these!” 51 And Jesus continued: "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

—Word of Salvation. Reflection 1. Philip, having been called to discipleship by Jesus, invites Nathanael to an encounter with the Messiah, indicated in the Scriptures by Moses and the prophets. Having experienced a new reality alongside Jesus, Philip feels a burning desire to reveal Him to others. That is why he sets out on his mission. Nathanael, in turn, presented as a true and sincere man, thus praised by Jesus himself, listens to Philip, but questions whether anything good can come from Nazareth, which was only a very poor town and unknown on ancient maps. Like others of his time, he thought that the Messiah was born in the land of David, precisely in Bethlehem of Judea (Jn 7:41-42, 52). The fact that he was a Nazarene already imposed a certain distrust. Philip simply invites him: “Come and see!” The verb COME indicates which side Philip is already on and, at the same time, the act of walking in that direction; the verb SEE, in turn, indicates “to become aware, to experience something new, to enter into the truth that is revealed”. 2. Nathanael asked Jesus: “From where do you know me?” This question requires an answer not about Nathanael, but about Jesus himself. It shows an interest in defining the person of the Master. Jesus shows that he knows Nathanael from within and has known him since he began to exist. This means that even before the possible encounter between man and Him, on HIS part this encounter has already become possible because He has already come to meet those who are in His project. Jesus’ initiative is demonstrated precisely in the phrase “Before Philip called you, while you were under the fig tree, I saw you”. Once again the verb SEE appears, having the same meaning as knowledge. Since the fig tree was mentioned, it is known that the “fig” was a symbol of Israel (cf. Mic 4:4; Zech 3:10; 1 Kings 5:5). 3. Nathanael recognizes Jesus as the true Messiah: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel”. This recognition comes from the fact that Nathanael is an authentic, humble Israelite, who is capable of changing his own convictions to embrace God’s thinking and who is willing to follow the truth, regardless of any social imposition. Nathanael’s confession is only a beginning, because greater things will come, for example, the fulfillment of Jacob’s dream (cf. Gen 28:10-22): “You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man”. Four things are important in this phrase from Genesis: firstly, the VERB TO SEE, which above all indicates someone who already has a predisposition for the HIGH, that is, for God. In other words, those who seek the things that belong to the Lord. Secondly, the expression “the open heaven”, in contrast to the closing of paradise, appears here as a possibility for those who respond to God’s call. Thirdly, the spiritual beings at the service of the SON OF MAN. These beings called angels are by nature spirits and by virtue of their mission, angels. They are at the service of the ONLY ONE capable of saving humanity. Fourthly, the SON OF MAN, interpreted in the Gospel as being Jesus, who is the essential link between God and men, the Way that leads to the Father, the One who demands that each one wants to find Him, experience Him, share the same mission, bear witness to Him and lead to Him all those who open themselves to the new life of the Master of Nazareth. A big and affectionate hug.