"Can something good come from Nàzaret?" (Giovanni 1: 43-51)

Biblical reflections by Mauro Leonardi*, priest and writer

Galilee, from where nothing good had to come, is the starting place and conclusion of the journey of Jesus, a fruitful place that triggers a domain in which, person after person, everyone is wrapped and involved by the love of Christ, up to the distant, to whom the reality of paradise is announced.

From the Gospel according to John 1: 43-51

At that time, Jesus wanted to leave for Galilee; He found Filippo and said to him, "Follow me!" Filippo was from Betsàida, the city of Andrea and Pietro.

Filippo found Natanaèle and said to him: "We found the one of whom Moses wrote, in the law, and the prophets: Jesus, the son of Joseph, of Nàzaret". Natanaèle said to him, "Da Nàzaret can come something good?" Filippo replied: "Come and see."

Meanwhile, Jesus, having seen Natanaèle who came to meet him, said of him: "Here is really an Israelite in which there is no falsehood". Natanaèle asked him: "How do you know me?" Jesus replied: "Before Filippo called you, I saw you when you were under the fig tree." Natanaèle replied to him: "Rabbi, you are the son of God, you are the king of Israel!". Jesus replied: «Why did I tell you that I saw you under the fig tree, you believe? You will see more things than these! ».

Then he said to him, "In truth, in truth I say to you: you will see the open sky and the angels of God to go up and go down the Son of man".

* Mauro Leonardi (Como 1959) has been a priest since 29 May 1988 and has lived in Rome since then. He spends many hours of his day as a priest and prefers building bridges rather than raising walls. For years he has been writing stories, articles, essays and books that revolve around the relationship between man and God. Author of the blogLike Jesus. Abelis (Lindau) is his latest novel. The volunteers of the Gionata Project thank him for wanting to share these reflections on the Word with us.