everything good comes from nazareth
"Nathanael's response to that was, 'Can anything good come from Nazareth?' " —John 1:46
Philip told Nathanael (Bartholomew) that Jesus was "the One Moses spoke of in the law — the prophets too — Jesus, Son of Joseph, from Nazareth" (Jn 1:45). Nathanael responded by putting down Nazareth, and thereby putting down Joseph and Jesus, who were from Nazareth.
The early Jewish Christians were tempted to reject Gentiles and the places where they lived. We too are tempted to look down upon, reject, avoid, and ignore people we don't agree with. Likewise, we are tempted to reject the places in which they live. In doing this, we reject, refuse to serve, and refuse to listen to Jesus and others (see Mt 25:45; Lk 10:16). Jesus will never reject us (Jn 6:37), but He is rejected by many people and places. He is the Cornerstone rejected by the builders (Mt 21:42).
Like Nathanael, we must repent of our rejection of Jesus, His people, and His places. Then we will know that everything good comes from Nazareth through the Nazorean, Jesus.
Prayer: Father, give me Your heart for the people and places I avoid against Your will.
Promise: "The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." —Rv 21:14
Praise: St. Bartholomew is said to have converted the king of Armenia to the faith. For that, he was martyred by the king's brother. He is a patron saint of Armenia today.
Reference: (Let's reject Satan, his evil works, and sin rather than rejecting Jesus and His good works. For a related teaching, order our leaflet Do You Renounce Satan? or on audio AV 44-1 or video V-44.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, March 30, 2012
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