(2 minute read)
Have you ever had the experience like Nathaniel when Philip told him they had found the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth? Nathaniel discounted anything Jesus could offer him because Jesus was from the wrong side of the tracks, so to speak. Philip simply invites Nathaniel to come and see.
I’m reminded of a time when my husband and I had been married 17 years, had been active in marriage ministry for 14 years, and worked to make our marriage a good one. What would a marriage conference offered at our parish have to offer us? Even so, we responded to the invitation to come and see, and I learned something very important about my husband that weekend that has greatly affected our marriage for the better.
How many times do we, or the people we serve, think that we have nothing to gain? And yet when we respond to the invitation, “Come and see,” we may be as delightfully surprised as Nathaniel was. We must have open hearts and the humility to notice when the Holy Spirit reaches out to us in an unexpected way. We must be willing to continue to offer the invitation to come and see to those who are skeptical. Although Jesus’ humble origins negated the fact that He came from God in Nathaniel’s mind, Nathaniel knew Philip and so trusted him enough to accept the invitation.
Where is the Holy Spirit calling us that is unexpected? What can someone, some book, some resource offer us from God? Remember Jesus said, ““I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.” (Mt 11:25).
Written by Kathy DeVet
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