Senin, 24 Agustus 2018
Pesta St. Bartolomeus, Rasul
Why. 21:9b-14; Mzm. 145:10-11,12-13ab,17-18; Yoh. 1:45-51

"Aku berkata kepadamu, sesungguhnya engkau akan melihat langit terbuka dan malaikat-malaikat Allah turun naik kepada Anak Manusia."

Hari ini kita merayakan pesta rasul Bartolomeus. Injil mengisahkan tentang bagaimana ia berproses untuk menerima dan mengimani Yesus. Semula, ia menyangsikan-Nya, namun kemudian menjadi percaya ketika Yesus mengatakan bahwa Ia telah melihatnya di bawah pohon ara. Bagi orang Israel, pohon ara merupakan lambang berkat dan kedamaian dari Tuhan. Pohon ara, dengan daun-daunnya yang rimbun, mampu memberi perlindungan dan keteduhan dari sengatan panas terik matahari. Di bawah pohon ara pula, orang bisa menemukan kedamaian untuk beristirahat sejenak, berdoa dan merenungkan sabda Tuhan. Itulah mengapa, para guru kebijaksanaan Israel seringkali mengumpulkan murid-murid mereka di bawah pohon ara, kemudian memberikan pengajaran kepada mereka. Dan yang lebih istimewa, siapa pun yang mau berteduh di bawah pohon ara akan dilihat oleh Tuhan, sebagaimana Natanael (Bartolomeus) dilihat oleh Yesus. Hasilnya, ia pun menjadi percaya kepada Yesus dan menerima pewahyuan luar biasa: "melihat langit terbuka dan malaikat-malaikat Allah turun naik kepada Anak Manusia". Yesus adalah puncak pewahyuan Allah. Dengan menjadi manusia, lebih-lebih dengan wafat dan kebangkitan-Nya, Yesus telah membawa surga itu ke bumi sekaligus membawa kita masing-masing ke surga. Marilah kita menemukan dan menciptakan pohon ara dalam kehidupan kita. Kita jadikan hati kita, keluarga atau rumah tangga kita, tempat kerja kita, dan komunitas-komunitas kita sebagai tempat yang memberikan kedamaian dan keteduhan. Di situlah kita dapat merasakan serta mengalami kehadiran dan berkat Tuhan dalam suasana surgawi.

Doa: St. Bartolomeus, doakanlah kami agar kami mampu menemukan dan menciptakan pohon ara, yakni tempat kami merasakan kedamaian dan mengalami berkat Tuhan. Amin. -agawpr-

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What is the significance of Jesus' revelation of seeing Nathanael "under the fig tree"? For the people of Israel, the fig tree was a symbol of God's peace and blessing (1 Kings 4:24b-25, Micah 4:4). It provided shade from the midday sun and a cool refreshing place to retreat, pray, and reflect on God's word. Rabbis often gathered their disciples under the shade of the fig tree to teach them the wisdom and revelation of God's word in the Scriptures. It is very likely that Nathanael had been thinking about God's word  while sitting  "under his fig tree" and reflecting on God's promise to send a Messiah King who would free his people from sin and oppression and usher in God's kingdom of righteousness and peace for the whole world. Perhaps Nathanael dozed off for a midday nap and dreamt of God's kingdom like Jacob had dreamt when God gave him a vision of a great ladder which united earth with heaven (see Genesis 28:12-17). Through the gift of revelation Nathanael recognized that Jesus was truly the Messiah, the everlasting "Son of God and King of Israel" (John 1:49).  The Lord Jesus offered Nathanael the greatest gift of all - the gift of friendship with God and the offer of free access to God's throne in heaven.
What does Jesus mean when he says "you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man"? One of the most remarkable revelations recorded in the Bible is the dream of Jacob (Genesis 28:12-17). God had opened a door for Jacob that brought him and his people into a new relationship with the living God. In Jacob's dream God revealed his angelic host and showed him the very throne of heaven and promised Jacob that he and his descendants would dwell with the living God. Jesus' response to Nathanael's new faith in accepting Jesus as the Messiah is the promise that Jesus himself will open the way for free access to the very throne of God in heaven. Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise to Jacob and his descendants - he is the way to the Father in heaven and the true "ladder (or stairway) which unites earth with heaven." In Jesus' incarnation, the divine Son of God taking on human flesh for our sake, we see the union of heaven and earth - God making his dwelling with us and bringing us into the heavenly reality of his kingdom through his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus' death on the cross, where he defeated sin and won new life for us through his resurrection, opens the way for each of us to come into a new relationship with God as his adopted sons and daughters. The Lord Jesus opens the way for each one of us to "ascend to heaven" and to bring "heaven to earth" in the daily circumstances of our lives. God's kingdom is present in those who seek him and who strive to do his will. Through the gift of faith God opens a door for each one of us to the heavenly reality of his kingdom. Do you see with the "eyes of faith" what the Lord Jesus has done for us?

"Heavenly Father, through your Son Jesus Christ, you have opened the way to heaven for each one of us. As you personally revealed yourself to your beloved patriarchs and apostles, so reveal yourself to me that I may recognize your presence with me and know the power of your kingdom at work in my life. May I always find joy and peace in your presence and never lose sight of your everlasting kingdom."

Salam Damai Kristus