Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle
The last words of today’s gospel are like the teasers at the end of an episode of your favorite show. Jesus says Nathanael will see “greater things than this.” Jesus is anticipating a common human desire. “What’s next?” we ask. Something amazing is happening now, so what does the future hold? Will it be even greater? It happened to Jesus a lot. He would be preaching and healing people, and someone would ask for a sign… as if all the healings weren’t enough! Humans have a capacity to normalize the amazing things that happen all around us, just because they happen a few times in a row. Here, Jesus is baiting Nathanael, and us. You’ll see something greater.
What will we see next on the road of discipleship? Only God knows the answers for certain. The daily rhythm of prayer, good works, reflection, and reconciliation continue, and somehow we are transformed slowly into the creatures God made us to be. How we long for a short-cut! If only God would show me a sign, then my faith would be greater. Then I’d be ready and willing to make those scary, big changes and sacrifices that the Spirit has been quietly encouraging me to make for so long. But there are no shortcuts. Throughout nature and our lives, it pleases the Lord that most changes are slow and continuous, instead of quick, violent, and destructive.
Because the Lord favors slow growth over instant conversion, our thirsty hearts can benefit from a little reflection on our personal and communal story. How did my life look 5, 10, 30, or 50 years ago? How has my life of faith changed and grown since then? How have the Church and the World changed over the same time? Consider all the good works and conversions has God accomplished in salvation history! It’s not all good news, but we see that Jesus is present, turning everything toward the light. Most of us can see God’s work and praise it; we are better than we once were. What happens next depends on our cooperation with God. The Lord stands by us; may we continue to grow in the ‘splendor of the Kingdom,’ and make it known to the rest of the world.
-Chris Nieport