Scripture for Jan 5 and Jan 6, 2007

I John 3:7-10. Psalm 81: 1.7.8-9. John 1:35-42. The revelation or manifestations of who Jesus is continue in our readings from the writings of John. Today we find out that the only way to discover whether any good can come from Nazareth is to be another Nathaniel who is called by Philip to find Jesus, the son of Joseph of Nazareth. Nathaniel represents us who search for Jesus who is already within our hearts! By entering into the symbolism of the Fourth Evangelist we discover new manifestations of Jesus. The name Nathaniel means God has given or "Gift of God" and that is what we too are to be called in our search for Jesus at Nazareth. For the historical Nathaniel that was an unlikely place to find the Messiah, but for the symbolic Nathaniel, Nazareth becomes the place where we do find Jesus, son of Joseph of the royal messianic line of David. We possess both the good qualities of Nathaniel and some of the darker side of him when we doubt things about Jesus but with the help of the Philips' in our lives, we are led to discover Jesus--even at Nazareth. Yes, there is a lot of Nathaniel within us. Once we find where Nazareth is we discover an oasis for our spiritual life. Here we are able to enter the formative, contemplative and silent years of our Messiah, Jesus Christ. Here we find the Holy Family--it seems that John considers Joseph still alive unlike Mark who tells us Jesus is said to be only the Son of Mary (Mark 6:3). Let us go with the Gospel of John during these few remaining days of the Christmas Season. More manifestations await us tomorrow in the readings and also in Epiphany and the Baptism of Jesus, all within the next three days. Then Jesus will tell us the we like Nathaniel are true Israelites, people without guile. But we have to believe and love the Jesus within our hearts. Amen.