The Daily Office for January 12, 2011
Scriptures
Psalm 18:1-20
Genesis 4:17-26
Hebrews 3:1-11
John 1:43-51
Reading (John 1:43-51)
Reflection
Jesus sees Nathanael coming and addresses him as an Israelite of great integrity. This is a compliment to the honesty and sincerity of Nathanael. Nathanael then asks Jesus how he knows him. Jesus reveals the penetrating eye of deity by telling Nathanael that even before Philip found him Jesus knew he was under a fig tree. In a previous moment of quiet devotion, Jesus had seen Nathanael. Nathanael then proclaims Christ as the Son of God and the promised Messiah.
The final verses are more of a promise than a question. Because of Nathanael’s faith, he would see greater things than these. Jesus now describes these greater things by referring to the Old Testament story concerning Jacob’s ladder. Christ Himself was to be the Ladder between God and man since He was the Son of God (1:49) and the Son of man (1:51).
Collect of the Day
Almighty God, who endowed Aelred the abbot with the gift of Christian friendship and the wisdom to lead others in the way of holiness: grant to your people that same spirit of mutual affection, so that, in loving one another, we may know the love of Christ and rejoice in the eternal possession of your supreme goodness; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.