Something Good out of Nazareth?!?!

Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” John 1:46

Today is the day the Church has set aside to honor St. Bartholomew (also known as Nathanael in the book of John). Bartholomew’s road to becoming a disciple of Jesus first included some doubts. Bartholomew was one among many who seems to have expected that the Messiah would come from somewhere a little more highly regarded than Nazareth. “Can anything good come out of Nazarth?” Bartholomew asked Philip. Bartholomew would soon find out that indeed the very Son of God would come out of Nazareth!

We too, may have doubts about the ways of God from time to time. We often times think in the ways of the world, which are completely opposite from God’s ways. True glory is not found in wealth, riches, status, or hometown. True glory is found in humility and service – which is exactly what Jesus came to do. In humility Christ came to serve as the once and for all perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world.

God’s ways are not our ways and sometimes this causes us to lose heart. But may the Holy Spirit continue to strengthen and nurture our faith that we can boldly confess of Jesus along with Bartholomew, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel.”