This piece of writing has been inspired by John 1:43-51, as I reflect on Nathanael’s initial reaction as he responds to Philips conviction that he has found ‘the one’. It is the Gospel set in the Revised Common Lectionary for this Sunday (Epiphany 2, Yr B).

“Can anything good came out of there?”
Nathanael’s words so familiar,
words we too might be so tempted to say.

What good can come out of our world?
A world full of war, of fighting, of violence,
so full of power struggles,
sacrifice of others to get what we want.
A world of the me, myself and I.

When we don’t even look after our world –
so that those who come after us have a chance of life.
Even those here, but unseen beneath us
go without to meet our every must have urge.

And even the ones who should know better,
Even the ones who should be the good that comes.
Sometimes, even they too, fail to emerge.

“Can anything good come out of there?”
Nathanael’s words perhaps too uncomfortably true
and much closer to home than we might like to admit.
Can anything good come out of here, right where we are?

But… Come! Come and see!
There is another way! There is another hope!
I’ve seen you, and I want to spend time with you!

Come, and see! And be transformed by my love.
Come, and see! And be encouraged by the power of hope.
Come and see! And see our world anew from this place of peace.
Come, just as you are, and see!

Can anything good come out of here, right where we are?
The choice, brothers and sisters, is ours!

(Written 10 January 2024)