Sometimes it may feel like God has abandoned us. But, he calls to us under that fig tree so that we know we’re one of his children.
In today’s reading, it’s Philip who runs to find Nathanael and tells him that he’s found God’s Anointed: Jesus.
It’s interesting to note that “Philip” is a Greek name and “Nathanael” is a Hebrew name.
In addition, a “fig tree” is often symbolic language for Israel and the place that this all takes place, Galilee, is often representative of the Gentile nations.
In other words, today’s story reads like this: God is found among a foreign nation and calls out to his people, the people of the Old Testament, to come and join him in a foreign land so that they can all be one people.
It sounds strange, and this is why the Good News is often surprising.
But, there’s great comfort in all this.
If God can be found among a foreign nation, then God is with us, wherever we go.
Even if we find ourselves exiled to the desert of life’s hardships, God is there walking along with us.
And that, my friends, if Good News!
The Reading
On the following day he wished to go away into Galilee, and he finds Philip. And Jesus says to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city from which Andrew and Peter came. Philip finds Nathanael and says to him, “We have found him of whom Moses wrote in the Law and the Prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” And Nathanael said to him, “Can there be anything good out of Nazareth?” Philip says to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael approaching him and says of him, “Look: truly an Israelite, in whom there is no guile.” Nathanael says to him, “Where do you know me from?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw that you were beneath the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the king of Israel.” Jesus replied and said to him, “You have faith because I told you I saw you below the fig tree? You shall see greater things than these.” And he says to him, “Amen, amen, I tell you, you shall see the heavens open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” (John 1:43-51)