Away with self-deprecation!

False humility is an obstacle to spiritual growth. On the other hand, having real courage to prove something in spiritual life is also necessary. It is inappropriate for a believing Christian to state that I am only sinful and weak. I cannot live for a long time without sin. I can’t control myself, control myself, etc. In such a case, the Christian himself puts even more obstacles in his spiritual growth and in advancing for Christ.

Saint Bartholomew offers us help in this area. John calls him Nathanael. Philip met him and told him: “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the Law and the prophets, Jesus, the son of Joseph in Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?!” Philip answered, “Come and see!” (Jn 1,45-46).

Nathanael was impressed by Philip’s invitation. Jesus did the rest. It sounds enjoyable. At the same time, we imagine ourselves in that situation. Yes, it concerns us, too. Jesus has different ways to attract other disciples to himself. He uses people who have already met him as a tool. That’s it. During the meeting, Jesus also said to Philip: “Follow me!” (Jn 1:43). Philip has such a wonderful experience as Ondrej with Ján. After all, when he meets his brother Simon, Ondrej also cannot keep it to himself and brings it to Jesus’ brother Simon. Jesus changed his name to Peter. Even Nathanael is so powerfully addressed at the first meeting that he cannot forget this meeting until his death. He knew the prophets and the Messiah would come, but he did not know that Jesus had already come from insignificant Nazareth to address the world.
The first words that Jesus speaks to Nathanael are actual. “This is a true Israelite in whom there is no guile” (Jn 1:47). Nathanael is an orthodox, sincere-minded, and believing Jew waiting for the Messiah. Even though he knows that what Jesus says about him is true, he is still curious, and that is why he asks: “How do you know me?” (John 1:48). Jesus describes to him the situation that happened shortly before when they were arguing about Jesus in a quiet conversation with Philip. No one saw or heard them. And Nathanael believed that this man before whom he was standing was the Messiah, which he also expressed with the words: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the king of Israel!” (Jn 1:49). For this, Nathanael received a particular lesson: “You will see greater things than these” (John 1:50). And not only Nathanael remembers this meeting, but also John the Apostle in the Gospel.

Nathanael underestimated Philip’s report. But it was true humility. Today, the Church gives us more than Philip gave to Natanael then. Today, we have a two-thousand-year-long tradition. And in the same way, many people doubt and underestimate themselves today. And so it is appropriate for us to do what Nathanael did in the words of Philip: “Come and see!” (Jn 1:46). Put aside speculation, your weaknesses, personal and bad experiences with your life and try again; go for With Jesus and with Jesus. Away with underestimating yourself! Saint Augustine was in a similar situation today and said: – If so-and-so could do it, why couldn’t I? – And today? We have Saint Augustine, not a sinner Manichean.
It is necessary to decide again. It is up to us to help each other. Each of us should be Philip, who did not keep the experience of the encounter to himself and called others to Jesus. It is the same for us today. Let’s name, address and convince! However, not only with verbal arguments but with your life – others and others following Jesus. “Verba movent, exempla trahunt” – “Words move, but examples attract!” Let’s not forget the couple: Filip and Natanael.

Natanael was philosophically minded. Thoughtful, but also open and educated. We know Natanael under the name Bartholomew. After Jesus’ ascension, he went to India and later to Armenia, where he died under King Astyages, who tortured him for converting King Polymers. According to tradition, he was flayed alive and crucified upside down.

Among the apostles, his statue appears most often in our churches. He is considered a patron; when other saints cannot help, he will help.

And for us, it is a beautiful appeal. When we have already broken the stick on ourselves many times, they concluded that we would not be better; let’s look at Bartholomew today and follow Jesus again. He sees, hears, and knows our difficulties, obstacles, and defeats, yet he waits for us. Let’s decide to go after him again. Meeting him was a wonderful experience for us.

Today it is appropriate when we say to ourselves: Stop underestimating yourself! Jesus does not reject any of us. Everyone dear to him starts repeatedly, not seven, but seventy-seven times. It’s hard to start over, but it’s saving for us. No one will give us greater strength at this moment than Jesus himself. Through the mouth of Philip, he also says to us: “Come and you will see!” (Jn 1:46). We have already convinced ourselves of the truth of these words many times, and today, we gratefully accept them again. Yes, I want. Yes, I am going. We realize that Jesus likes our humility. We are aware of our sinfulness, but we believe even more in Jesus’ love, mercy, and forgiveness. So we want to use today, encouraged by the behavior of Saint Nathanael-Bartholomew, to follow Jesus again. Even though we are nothing in the eyes of the world, in the eyes of Jesus, we mean a lot. After all, Jesus died for our sins. Jesus wants to save our souls, too. Jesus also prepared a place for us with the Father in his kingdom. And that’s why in the silence after Holy Communion, when we welcome Jesus into our hearts, we say again: We want to follow you and with you, Jesus. Jesus will gladly accept our plans and resolutions, done in humility and with love.

When Jesus trusts us, shouldn’t we do everything to make him happy? Today, we want to start again, and we want to help others.