Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle
As Christians, each of us is called to bring others to Christ. Pope Francis has used the term “missionary discipleship” to describe how this is accomplished. Through our encounter with Jesus, we are transformed by God’s grace and mercy and become his disciples. Then we are sent forth to invite others to follow Him. It is through how we live our lives that those around us are introduced to Jesus. Pope Francis describes this well when he says, “This is the mission...people need words but most of all they need us to bear witness to the mercy and tenderness of the Lord, which warms the heart and rekindles hope” Just like Phillip in today’s reading, we must invite others to “come and see” the Lord. Then, through their encounter with Christ they will also be transformed and sent forth to join with us as disciples to further the kingdom of God.
In today’s gospel reading Phillip seeks Nathaniel and tells him that he has found “the one about whom Moses wrote in the law.” Although Nathaniel has some doubts that someone from Nazareth could be the Christ, Phillip invites him to “come and see” Jesus for himself. When reflecting on this story that are several things that stand out. Phillip searches for his friend and wants to share the good news with him. He invites Nathaniel to meet Jesus and yet does not insist that he must believe based on his opinion. Phillip encourages Nathaniel to decide based on his own experiences. Nathaniel’s faith comes not from the witness of Phillip, but from His meeting with Jesus. From his encounter with Jesus- who knows all about him- Nathaniel is able to say “you are the Son of God.” Just like Phillip, I know I have gone out to “find” others and tell them about Jesus. But instead of inviting others to encounter Jesus and form their personal faith experience, I sometimes insist my beliefs and practices are the only way to know Him. I am reminded by this scripture that my job is not to convert other people, but merely to invite them to “come and see” Jesus. When they come to know Jesus and His love and mercy, then they will be transformed and become His disciples as well.
So I wonder how I can live this “missionary discipleship” every day. The best way that Christians attract others to Jesus is through the way we live. Our lives must be rooted in our relationship with Christ through prayer, scripture, and sacrament. Pope Francis knows that disciples of Christ “who have had this encounter know the difference Jesus makes and want others to experience this joy of a similar transformation. “ From our experience of Jesus, we go forth to tell others to “come and see.”
We are called to “to invite people into the joy of the Gospel by the way we live and way we act.” (Fr. John Jenkins) It is not enough to merely go up to someone and tell them to believe in Jesus. There should be something so striking and attractive about the way that we live that people will stop and say, “What makes you act the way that you do?I want this in my life as well!” It is when we live “full of fervor, joy, generosity, courage boundless love and attraction” (Pope Francis) that others will stop and take notice. Once those around us experience and see how we live as disciples of Jesus then we are then called to share the “heart of the Gospel, which is the joyful proclamation that Jesus loves them, gave his life to save them and seeks to live at their side each day to strengthen and free them.” (Pope Francis) We can accompany these individuals on their journey of faith as they come to know Christ and His love, but it is only through the grace of God that they can be transformed into disciples of Jesus.
Our call is to live as disciples of Jesus and invite others to “come and see” Him. Pope Francis reminds us, that “we don’t have a mission; each of us is a mission. It’s for that mission each of us is alive.” May each of us be the mission that we were created to be, so together we can build the kingdom of God.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for Jesus who shares your love and mercy with us. Through the grace of Your Spirit may we joyfully live our lives calling others to “come and see” Your Son, so that they too may come to know Him and You as well. May our lives be witnesses to His love and may all that we do bring You glory and praise. We pray this through Christ our LORD. Amen.
- Marylynn Herchline