Follow Me

Today’s Gospel Text: The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." 44 Now Philip was from Beth-sa'ida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathan'a-el, and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 46 Nathan'a-el said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 Jesus saw Nathan'a-el coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" 48 Nathan'a-el 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." 49 Nathan'a-el answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." 51 And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." John 1:43-51

Reflection: We are creatures who follow either blindly or obediently or rebelliously, but we follow.

In the gospel we have Philip who is called to follow, by Jesus, and he follows Jesus immediately.

In keeping with the characteristics of following, he could have followed his own thoughts and thinking, did he really require someone in life to follow.

There were many in Israel even at that time whom one could follow too. Along with these many, there must have been many thoughts and philosophies and ideas in society dominated by pagan Rome and he could have opted to follow them.

After all, did he not have a Greek background, at least in name and hence he must have had some Hellenistic influence in life.  His name in Greek means; lover of horses.

What was there to prevent him to a life of loose living on the jackpots and about Greek wisdom and learning?

Philips action of following Jesus is not a blind action but an action based on a sure knowledge, as if his heart has been prepared for this by the many years of his earnest search:  

"We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." (vs. 45)

A few minutes of interaction with Jesus is enough to convince him of the special place and role of Jesus and the fact that he proclaims Christ to others, with such immediacy, is a proof of his sharp discerning mind, trained in the art of discernment with God’s prophetic word as his sure guide.

A discerning mind makes following easy and Philip knows that it is not enough to just have a discerning mind or a wise mind but rather to have him who is capable of all things, Jesus Christ, is more important than anything in life.

Prayer:  Lord, I pray that I may know you and the power of your resurrection, and may share your sufferings, becoming like you in your death, that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Cfr. Phil 3:10-11)

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