Living in particular times

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1: 47-51)

Jesus' future apostle Nathaniel, also known as Bartholomew, is a typical Israelite of his own time. He is conditioned by ingrained cultural practices and prejudices. However, being a free and intellectually honest person, such  cultural conditioning did not prevent him from understanding the truth about Jesus. We live in particular times, too. So let us ask Jesus for the strength to remain intellectually free. This way we can increasingly appreciate our intimacy with God, the only thing that gives lasting peace.