“Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
That line almost shouted at me this morning.
I am working on a talk for tomorrow, and part of that talk is about brotherhood. I have been thinking about how brothers bring other brothers to Christ. And in the verse right before today’s Gospel, Philip tells Nathanael, “Come and see.”
Then today’s Gospel picks up with Nathanael coming to Jesus. Jesus tells him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
That really got me thinking. Philip brought Nathanael to Jesus, but Jesus already knew him. Before Philip ever said, “Come and see,” Jesus had already seen Nathanael.
That made me think about how many of us were brought to Christ by somebody else. Maybe somebody invited us to Mass, a retreat, Adoration, a Bible study, or simply had a conversation with us at the right time. They didn’t cause what happened next. They just said, in one way or another, “Come and see.”
Jesus was already there.
Looking back at yesterday, I realized there were probably things God wanted me to do that I simply didn’t catch. I get busy. I have my schedule and the things I think I need to accomplish. I even wrote this morning that I need to surrender my attachment to busyness.
Maybe part of slowing down and praying before the things I do is simply becoming more aware of what God is asking me to do and the people He puts in front of me.
Daniel says today, “His dominion is an everlasting dominion.” God is in control of this, not me. I don’t have to bring anybody to faith by my own power. I don’t have to know what God is doing in somebody else’s heart.
Maybe sometimes my job is just to notice the opportunity and say, “Come and see.”
So my prayer today is that I slow down enough to recognize those opportunities. Lord, help me serve and love the people You put in front of me. Give me the perseverance to keep pointing toward You, and then trust You with what happens next.
Who might God be giving you an opportunity to simply tell, “Come and see”?
I pray you get the graces you need today.
Keep up the good fight.
I’m praying for you. Please pray for me.
Scripture: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 | Psalm 138 | John 1:47-51
