Reflections on Scripture | Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
John 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."

Reflection

Everyone is called by God to enter into a relationship with Him that then has great power and the ability to accomplish the goal that God has chosen to share with His people, and that is the development and the growth of the Kingdom of Heaven. The kingdom of God here on this earth. Notice how the disciples were chosen. Some came on their own.

Some brought somebody else along. It was all very organic and not anything that we could sit down and say it was all fixed. Help us to be open to the way in which life unfolds and teaches us through the experiences we have with others. Every encounter has a potential to be a source of divine intervention, divine wisdom. Be open.

Closing Prayer

Father, a lot of what you long to share with us slips past our attention. So give us this curiosity, and this wisdom that longs to interpret the things that are happening around us. It makes sense that you are needing us to pay attention. In our paying attention, we become more receptive, more open to the ways in which you long to teach us. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kyle Cross