Before Philip called you (English)

1. 1
“Before Philip called you, I saw you...” (Jn 1: 48)
Before the initial proclamation
Sr. Maria Ko
If we put the question: who is the agent of Initial Proclamation? We would quickly answer: the
evangelizer, the disciple-missionary, all of us, all Christians. It is correct, but we must not forget
that there is a divine actor, wo is much more powerful, though not visible and not always
perceptible.
With the initial proclamation, we try to lead people to experience a personal encounter with Jesus,
but we must not attribute excessive value to our own efforts, forgetting that ultimately, it is the
Fathers, who draws his sons to his Son, as Jesus says: “No one can come to me unless the Father
who sent me draws them” (Jn 6: 44). And it is Jesus who attracts people to himself. Throughout his
earthly life, he captivated and attracted with his being, his words, and with his works, so many
people opened up to God with sincerity of heart. This force of attraction reached its fullest power
on the cross: "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all to myself" (Jn 12: 32). Before
attracting others to Jesus, witnesses and disciples are themselves attracted to him. By their own
fascination with Jesus, they can witness to others the attractiveness of Jesus.
In our reflections on the Initial Proclamation we tried to illustrate this reality with images and
metaphors, such as: Initial Proclamation as falling in love, as lighting a fire, as striking a match, as
provoking the “chick” and triggering interest to Jesus. I would like to add one more image to the
list: the magnetic effect.
Today, we will meditate on one such event, which occurs like a process of magnetic attraction :
the story of Nathaniel’s encounter with Jesus.
The next day he decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Now
Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathaniel and told him, “We
have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph,
from Nazareth.” But Nathaniel said to him, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to
him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathaniel coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true Israelite.
There is no duplicity in him.” Nathaniel said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said
to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathaniel answered him, “Rabbi, you
are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” (Jn 1: 43-50)
We are at the beginning of Jesus’ public life. According to all the evangelists, one of the first works
that he accomplishes is the call of the disciples. From the very beginning, he not only captivates
people, but explicitly calls them to follow him: he wants to form a community around himself that
shares his life and his good news. The encounter of Jesus with Nathaniel is part of these first calls.
It is John who tells us with vivacity and beauty (Jn. 1: 35-51).

2. 2
After an initial reading, it is striking that the evangelist emphasizes the element of human
mediation in these vocation scenes. There is an interesting chain effect. At first, John the Baptist
testifies to Jesus, pointing to his apostles: "Here is the lamb of God!" (V. 36). Two of them,
attracted by this mysterious character, timidly follow him and, after an unexpected invitation, they
remain with him (v. 37-39). The next day, one of the two, Andrew, full of enthusiasm, brings his
brother Simon Peter to Jesus. The next day, Jesus calls Philip and then Philip speaks of Jesus to
Nathaniel. The encounter with Jesus has an immediate consequence - a race to go to brother and
friend. Andrew says to his brother, "We have found the Messiah" (v. 41), and Philip to Nathaniel,
"We have found the one whom Moses wrote of in the Law and the Prophets - Jesus, son of Joseph
of Nazareth "(v. 45). They are not sophisticated proclamation, but simple testimonies, stories of
personal experience, joyful announcements. An amazing discovery needs to be communicated; a
good experience should be shared. So John writes, "What we have seen and heard, we also
announce to you, that you too may be in communion with us" (1 Jn 1: 3).
Following the emotion of this chain reaction, the reader of this Johannine narration looks forward
to seeing an amazed, enthusiastic, happy Nathaniel. On the contrary, to the joyful proclamation of
his friend, he responds with coldness, skepticism, suspicion, and irony: "Can something good come
from Nazareth?" Closed in by his own prejudice, he cannot imagine how Nazareth, an insignificant
city, could possibly produce something worthy of attention. This is simply disproportionate, so this
Jesus does not interest him at all. Philip, however, insists this time with an explicit invitation:
"Come and see" (v. 46). He learned from Jesus to extend the invitation, for these are the precise
words with which Jesus used to attract and call the first two disciples (cf. 1: 39).
While Nathaniel makes the effort “to come" and "to see," it is more out of curiosity or to satisfy
his friend than for a real desire to know who this Jesus is who "sees" and "encounters”. It is Jesus
who precedes, foresees, and takes the initiative to speak with him first. Even before Nathaniel had
the chance to see Jesus and to know him, he was seen, known and loved by Jesus. To Nathaniel’s
coldness, Jesus responds with a warm welcome. While Nathaniel initially grasps the most
superficial aspect of the man of Nazareth, Jesus instead reads his heart. While Nathaniel is ready
to see only the negative, Jesus is particularly sensitive to the positive side of man. To the skeptical
Nathaniel, he gives the gift of one of his best praises: “Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity
in him.” (v. 47)
Nathaniel sees nothing good in those who do not have a decent “business card” to present. Jesus,
instead, sees the good in him, in his person, in the depths of his being, and discovers it
spontaneously. Although conditioned by prejudice and apparent indifference, this young man has
a fundamental human quality: sincerity. It is clear, transparent. Later, even with the rich young
man, who is undecided, but has good will, Jesus focuses on the young man’s uprightness and
appreciates his efforts in searching and encourages him to continue (cf. Luke 18: 18-23). This is
Jesus’ constant style: He sees not only the appearance, but the heart; not only external actions,
but hidden intentions and innermost desires for the good. He looks with sympathy at all people
and discovers a reflection of God, although it is often hidden, covered, obscured.
The disciples he calls to be his followers are all good men, but imperfect, unprepared, and not free
from defects - even serious ones. Nevertheless, it is precisely these men on whom Jesus places the
greatest dreams for his Church. He trusts them and appoints them with the unique task of
prolonging his own mission of salvation all over the world and throughout history.

3. 3
A Chinese proverb says: "He who holds heaven in his heart sees heaven everywhere." Jesus sees
that piece of heaven which every man and every woman carries within, makes it known, teaches
about it, so that it becomes ever larger and brighter. He recognizes in each human face the
reflection of his own image. He has strong solidarity with and a great passion for each person: for
each person, Jesus is the older brother and perfect model (cf. Rm. 8: 29; Col. 1: 15). He can
discover hidden seeds of goodness, recognize gifts still unknown, grasp unexpressed desires,
understand weak expressions of love, and understand the language of the heart.
Stunned by Jesus’ words, Nathaniel asked with wonder, "How do you know me?" And Jesus
replied: "Before Philip called you, I saw you when you were under the fig tree" (v. 48). Jesus sees
"before" and sees in depth. He sees man in his exact context ("under the fig tree") and does not
miss any detail. Everything is important and valuable to him. Paul also confesses with emotion:
Jesus Christ, the Son of God "loved me and gave himself for me" (Gal. 2: 20). John is even more
explicit: "We love him because he loved us first" (1 Jn. 4: 19).
How much joy comes from the awe of being known and loved first and more than one could
imagine or desire! "I have seen you ...", "I loved you": even today Jesus continues to make his
words heard, and this is what gives meaning and beauty to life.
“Before Philip called you, I saw you...”. We are “follower” of Jesus. Jesus precedes, foresees,
prepare, provides. His is a “preventive system” applicable to the Initial Proclamation.
The encounter of Jesus with Nathaniel under a fig tree at Cana of Galilee brings to mind the
encounter of don Bosco with Bartholomew Garelli in the sacristy of the Church of St. Francis Assisi
in Turin, an encounter which marks the beginning of the Oratory. (Ancient Christian traditions
identify Nathaniel with Bartholomew, which comes from the Aramaic: bar- Tolmay, Son of Tolmay).
Even before seeing the boy face to face, don Bosco already states: “He is a friend of mine”. It is a
Pre-assumption, a decision prior to the encounter. Then he tells the sacristan: "Call him now, I
need to talk to him". In the conversation with the boy, after a series of questions to which poor
Bartholomew had to answer “no”, don Bosco persistently proceeds in search of a positive point,
something to which he can respond positively with pride. At the end with the question: "Do you
know how to whistle?" manages to snatch a smile from the boy's lips. It's a nice example of
“preventive system” applied to the Initial Proclamation.