Brian’s Reflection: Saturday, January 17, 2009


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.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

- from the Gospel named “John”, for the second Sunday after Epiphany


Eugene Peterson, in his paraphrase “The Message”, renders the last line “Are you kidding!”

The story of Jesus and Nathanael is perfect! It’s about you, and me, and I hope that you see that – especially if you are baptized into the Way of Jesus. If I say to you, “You are a part of that Mystery called “God”; you are made of the “stuff” of Creation and the Creator – however you may understand “Creator”; you are “of God”; what would you think?? You would probably think exactly what Nathanael said to Philip: “Are you KIDDING!”

If you did think that, then think about what you have been taught. Or what you think your experience has taught you. Or your self-image. In many ways, the “World” works against us. It “teaches” us, in a myriad of ways, that we are worthless, delusional, self-aggrandizing. There are so many times in our lives when we are tempted to look at ourselves and say, “Are you kidding!”. Can anything Good come out of ….. ME?! Is there anything of the Beauty and Wonder and Loveliness that we believe “God” to Be to be found in ME?

The answer, from the perspective of the Gospel Message, is ….. YES! Too much of Life, even of Faith and Religion, is organized to keep us from knowing who we really are, despite words to the contrary. Religion too often wants to control us, limit us, prevent us from blossoming into full flower, extinguishing our uniqueness and our gifts.

But this is not the purpose of “true religion”. True Religion longs for us to be our “Christ-like” Self: Loving; Caring; Giving of our self for others; Free; Joyous; Spontaneous; Abandoned in Generosity.

Jesus says to us, to each one of us, as He said to Nathanael: “Before even you were summoned into Life, I SAW you!” Or, better put, “I AM who YOU are! I see your guilelessness; you are a true member of God’s family!”

Read Psalm 139, the psalm appointed for tomorrow. It reminds us that we are “in God”.

Jesus is not kidding. You and I are “of God”. Believe.

Choose Life. Live It as your true Self.

Brian+