What really happened Lord Jesus Christ when you saw Nathanael or St. Bartholomew “under the fig tree” that prompted him to give that great confession of faith that “you are the Son of God; the King of Israel”? (Jn.1:48,49)
Give me O Lord the grace and courage to strip myself naked, to be flayed like St. Bartholomew in order to reveal and accept what is deep beneath my skin, to be without guile like him. Despite his harsh words about you and your origins which are not really true because you actually came from Bethlehem, it became an opportunity for St. Bartholomew to feel being loved and accepted by you. In calling him a “true child of Israel”(Jn.1:47), St. Bartholomew must have felt that here at last is the Son of God, the Messiah who truly knows him and most of all, accepts him. He must have felt so good of finding you who finally understood and accepted him as he is.
Sometimes Lord Jesus, we refuse to make that bold move of knowing you more clearly, of being under the fig tree, praying for your coming to us personally. And most of all, so often we refuse to be surprised by you like St. Bartholomew in that simple encounter. Make us “come and see” you as you are, Lord Jesus, true God and true Man. Amen. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria,Bulacan 3022
*A popular sketch of the call of Nathanael under the fig tree (courtesy of Google).
