See Greater Things – Reflection on John 1:45-51
This reflection on Nathanial is a personal thought process from over two decades ago that I still keep on the top of my mind. As I sat still in the silence deep into a forest, I wondered faith-wise if I was where God expected. I could not shake the fact that my mind was full of ideas and things I must do. Why did I have so little time? Yet, I recognized a flaw in my thoughts in a split second of a breath. I feel internal deceit. Had I been making my life’s path with little of God’s assistance? A glance at a pair of crossed tree branches revealed the radiance of Christ that was touchable by believing in Trinity’s participation. Fully embracing this intellectual thinking allowed me to stop resisting and accept God’s will. I agreed at that moment to frequently become still so Jesus could see me resting under the “fig tree” to allow me to see greater things. As a result of the hike toward stillness that day, I have witnessed thousands of tiny wisps of God’s grandeur that I would not have previously noticed. With practice, Nathaniel’s stillness now comes even within the hustle and bustle of worldliness.
Nathaniel Under the Fig Tree by James Tissot (full-resolution painting)
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Ordinary Time Reflections
John 1:45-51 – Scripture*
45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on John 1:45-51 Reflection – See Greater Things.
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Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities experience your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite the world’s distractions.
Attributions
This site has written permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible John 1 Bible passage.
The Immersive Prayer website follows the guidelines for image web use at the Brooklyn Museum and the Jewish Museum websites.
Primary Lectio Divina word or phrase: See Greater Things
Page and discussion group on these Lectio Divina daily Gospel Readings.
Discussion group on St. John of the Cross.