The Archangels | Tuesday 29 September

Today is Tuesday the 29 September, the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.  

Salt of the Sounds sings, ‘Lamb of God’.  

A slightly different approach, a different format today:  we’re going to spend the whole of the prayer time entering into this scene, or trying to enter into it, and using the imagination to let the scene unfold.  Nathaniel comes face to face with Jesus in this scene and converses with him.  The idea is for you to take the place of Nathaniel and do the same, to imagine yourself as Nathaniel in this passage from John’s gospel, and in a prayerful spirit, to see where it takes you, what happens, what words are exchanged….   This means spending a little while preparing, picturing the scene in your mind, and then hearing the passage again, a little at a time.  

John 1:47-51   

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 get 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."

So, to begin, imagine where it is that this encounter takes place.  The gospel doesn’t tell us the exact place where Nathaniel walked towards Jesus and these words were spoken.  So, imagine it for yourself.  Is it in your home town or city? in a country lane, in a busy street or a quiet, deserted place?  Is it indoors or outdoors?  Choose a place, and imagine it, with Jesus there, waiting for you.  What can you see?  What can you hear?  What does the place smell like?  Imagine the feel of the ground under your feet as you walk towards Jesus.  

When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!"   

As you walk towards Jesus, what do you hear him say about you?  

Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you."  

Ask Jesus how he got to know you.  What does he say?  

Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 

What do you say to Jesus here?  

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."   

These are the promises he makes to Nathaniel.  But what promises does he make to you, now?  

Finally, how do you respond to these words from the Lord?  

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.