Epiphany

January 16, 2021

Scripture Reading:
John 1:43-51
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.’

None of us are called to do everything; all of us are called and skilled with the ability to do something. My mother died on January 13, 2007, and my father died on January 15, 1984. So, this is usually a time of remembrance for my siblings and me. Such dates are encoded in the very fiber of our beings. Funny, I always remember the month and the day, but I had to double-check the years. It does not seem possible that Mom has been gone 14 years. My mother probably taught me that I could not do everything, but I can do something. I find it somewhat amusing to say that because I do not know of anything, my Mom could not do if she set her mind to it. She added a bedroom to our house when she thought my older brother needed a room of his own. The one thing she did not do much is sing. She added that skill to her reparatory by marrying a man with a beautiful baritone voice.

What was it that Jesus discerned about Nathanael when Jesus saw him under the fig tree? Perhaps he perceived some unique skill that fit perfectly with the other disciples. My mother started her career as a Deaconess in the Methodist Church, serving first along the border in Texas and then moving to work in West Virginia during the Depression. She was a dedicated letter writer and card sender in her older years.  When she could no longer do that, she dedicated herself to intercessory prayer.

What is God calling each of us to do as Disciples of Christ? Are we answering that call?

Prayer: Lord, write on my heart how I can serve you more nearly and where I may fall short in training or resources guide me to others who can help me on my journey as I can help them. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.