Free from prejudices and falsehoods

Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel. Jesus said, “You believe[a] because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1: 45-51)

To encounter Jesus in our lives we must be free from prejudices. This is particularly clear in the case of Nathanael’s vocation. Note that Nathanael, whom the other gospels call Bartholomew, was one of the oldest apostles and a pious Israelite. Humanly speaking, he may have had more difficulties than the other younger disciples in following Jesus and accepting some of the novelties that characterized His proclamation. Let us do as Nathanael and eliminate falsehoods and prejudices from our lives. In this way, we will be on the right path, that is, on the path to our Salvation.