We would have no Saint Peter without Saint Andrew, and no Saint Nathanael without Saint Philip…
Conversion is contagious.
This is not a new concept.
After all, first Andrew found the Messiah, and the very next day he brought his brother Simon (who later became Peter) to Christ…
“Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas’ (which, when translated, is Peter).” (John 1:40-42).
Later, “Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, ‘We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ … Nathanael answered Him, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’” (John 1:43-49).
Philip did not waste time on speeches or fancy words. He did not try to convince Nathanael or persuade him. He did not take offence when Nathanael sort of ridiculed him for his belief in Christ, asking, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”. Instead, he just said, “Come and see.”
And those three small words changed everything because those three small words allowed Philip to SHARE God with his friend…
During the height of Communism in China, Chinese Catholic families would keep some Consecrated Hosts in a box in their home in the absence of priests and take turns watching and adoring those hosts… Once, a woman who was in charged of the box, was called away from home suddenly. She had a very dear and trusted neighbour who was not Catholic, and she called on her, asking her to wait with the Blessed Eucharist in her absence and explaining what was hidden in that box. Upon her return, her neighbour did not wish to leave... “Can I stay a bit more?” she asked, “I have never felt like this before!” Following her instruction over the next few months, that neighbour joined the “Confraternity of Clandestine Worshipers of the Box”.
And the catalyst for that was simply her friend sharing the Blessed Eucharist with her.
And I have been reflecting on that today, because I have been thinking about how much I share (or do not). You see, so often in my life I feel embarrassed to talk about my Beloved. And today, I realise how terribly sad that must be for Him. Imagine loving someone beyond comprehension, and instead of publicly acknowledging you, they simply try to pretend that you do not exist (and worse – they “cheat” on you by putting money and work and other people and social life and comfort ahead of you).
For that is what I do to my God. And when I think of that today, I do not only see the waste of my own time, but I also see the waste of opportunity that results from my unwillingness to share…
For we would have no Saint Peter without Saint Andrew, and no Saint Nathanael without Saint Philip… And this shows me that conversion is contagious and I just wonder, who I have failed to infect with this love... I just wonder...
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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