sermon excerpts: "Listen First" (John 1: 43-51)

Who is this Nathanael anyway? All we get from this snippet is that he is probably a close friend of Philip and likes to sit under trees. If we do a bit of research, the implication is that Nathanael was studying the Torah, the law of Moses. Reading between the lines of this encounter with Jesus, I might say that Nathanael is a morally righteous, even snobbish, who appreciates a little flattery.

In some circles, he is said to be the apostle Bartholomew. In John’s gospel, Philip and Nathanael are linked together; in the other gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, it is Philip and Bartholomew that are buddy-buddy with no mention of anyone named Nathanael anywhere. So it seems natural to assume that the apostle Bartholomew and the shade-seeking Nathanael are the same man.

We know (or at least think we know) who Nathanael is based on the people he related to, on the company he kept. ...

How did Jesus know this about Nathanael, that he was an Israelite free from deceit? Was it benign flattery, because who is going to disagree with such a characterization? Assuming that Nathanael was in fact, a noble and honest person, how did Jesus discern this fact from a distance? Cosmic eavesdropping? Body language?

Maybe Jesus heard the stories Philip told about his friend Nathanael, maybe Jesus paid attention to the signs and stories about this man. Is it as simple as thinking that Jesus listened? I mean genuine listening, not merely waiting for your turn to speak again.

In our own lives and in the teaching of our faith, we know the emphasis is on the end product and the required action to achieve this end: our faith requires speaking our truth and sharing our story. The work of evangelization is to spread the word of faith. (Which is different that enticing people to come any particular Sunday service of any particular congregation).

Unless our action is grounded in listening, it becomes less about God and more about ourselves. ... the fact remains that what and who we know influence the way we live our lives and how we orient our faith.

So we listen to those around us. And we listen to the still small voice that calls to our hearts. In the space between all the conversations and ideas and frustrations, God’s call may be uncovered. Who are we as a people of faith? Who am I as a follower of Christ? Who might we be as Appin / Trinity United Church?

Before we can take action, before we can make a decision, before we can speak, we listen.