Psalm 139:1-6 (NRSV)

To the leader. Of David. A Psalm.
O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down,
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
O Lord, you know it completely.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is so high that I cannot attain it.

John 1:43-51 (NRSV)

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, 'Follow me.' Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 'We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.' Nathanael said to him, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' Philip said to him, 'Come and see.' When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, 'Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!' Nathanael asked him, 'Where did you come to know me?' Jesus answered, 'I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.' Nathanael replied, 'Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!' Jesus answered, 'Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.' And he said to him, 'Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.'

Reflection:

In today's reading, Philip says "Come and see." This reminds me of something I heard in La Plant, South Dakota last year, when our Farmington Valley Association of churches teamed together to spend a week with Simply Smiles at the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation. On the day we arrived at the reservation, one of the staff of Simply Smiles said to our group: "Some things you just can't properly express in a 20-minute presentation in Connecticut. Some things you just have to 'come and see.'" My life was changed that week, and I am looking forward to returning to the reservation this year.

Imagine how Nathanael's life was changed when he responded to Philip's simple request.

Come and see. In a day and age when everything can be looked up on the internet, we could choose to stay in our homes or offices and view everything through our computers or smartphones. Yet, there's still something quite moving and powerful about going in person and seeing with our own eyes. In person, we may find something much more meaningful than a "like" button. We may find Christ present in the world, and we may find our lives forever changed for the better.

Where will you go in 2015?

Prayer:

God, thank you for knowing me, for knowing everything about me. Call me to the places where you want me to "come and see." Amen.

the Rev. Zachary Mabe Mabe

pastor of Terryville Congregational Church