Faith from small things

The account of Nathanael (also known as Bartholomew) meeting Christ for the first time in today's Gospel (John 1:45-51) may seem a bit humorous: he is reluctant to meet Jesus – seemingly apathetic and even prejudiced – but when he meets our Lord, he is swept away by the very simplest thing.

Nathanael said to him,
“How do you know me?”

Jesus answered and said to him,
“Before Philip called you,
I saw you under the fig tree.”

Nathanael answered him,
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God;
you are the King of Israel.”

On another level, this reminds us of the power of the gift of faith: by which small, simple things can give an amazing amount of insight, comfort, and strength.

And the gift of faith is only the beginning: the merest glimpse at the eternal glories of what God has prepared for those who love Him.

Jesus answered and said to him,
“Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this.”

And he said to him,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened and the angels of God
ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”