GOSPEL
From the Gospel according to John
Jn 1:43-51

Jesus decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip.
And Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter.
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.”
But Nathanael said to him,
“Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
“Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him.”
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.”
Nathanael answered him,
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
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.”
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.”

The word of the Lord.

Seeing by God

God observed Nathanael while he was under the fig tree, experiencing His divine calling. Jesus, acknowledging Nathanael’s doubts, responds as God, not bothering to explain His actual birthplace but emphasizing Nathanael’s divine calling.
In my own calling, that’s where I should focus my attention, steering clear of human reasoning that might lead me astray.
Lord, You are the Son of God.

Applied to married life:

Amy: Here we are, frequently criticising the Church’s words or actions, like in today’s Gospel, questioning if anything good can come from Jesus being from Nazareth…
James: You’re correct. We understand the sacredness of our marriage, yet we’re not fully embracing it.
Amy: I ponder: If Jesus were to observe us now, would He say we are living up to the profound vocation we’ve received as spouses?
James: I believe we still have progress to make… So, you and I, let’s concentrate on being faithful to our calling, and we’ll witness and contribute to more significant things. This is how we’ll genuinely bear witness to the truth.
Amy: Amen.

Mother,

I aspire to be true to the significant mission of being a spouse entrusted to me by God. Guide me closer to the Lord. Forever praised be His name.