Daily Readings - Thu Aug 24 2017

First Reading - Revelation 21.9b-14

⁹And one of the seven Angels, those holding the bowls filled with the seven last afflictions, approached and spoke with me, saying: "Come, and I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.¹⁰And he took me up in spirit to a great and high mountain. And he showed me the Holy City Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God¹¹having the glory of God. And its light was like that of a precious stone, even like that of the jasper stone or like crystal¹²And it had a wall, great and high, having twelve gates. And at the gates were twelve Angels. And names were written upon them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel¹³On the East were three gates, and on the North were three gates, and on the South were three gates, and on the West were three gates¹⁴And the wall of the City had twelve foundations. And upon them were the twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb

Gospel - John 1.45-51

John

Chapter 1

⁴⁵Philip found Nathanael, and he said to him, "We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the Law and the Prophets: Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.⁴⁶And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good be from Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see.⁴⁷Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, and he said about him, "Behold, an Israelite in whom truly there is no deceit.⁴⁸Nathanael said to him, "From where do you know me?" Jesus responded and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.⁴⁹Nathanael answered him and said: "Rabbi, you are the Son of God. You are the King of Israel.⁵⁰Jesus responded and said to him: "Because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree, you believe. Greater things than these, you will see.⁵¹And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the Angels of God ascending and descending over the Son of man.

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter two profound visions of God's glory and the call to faith. The first reading from Revelation paints a vivid picture of the New Jerusalem, a city of splendor and light, symbolizing God's ultimate triumph and the eternal home of His people. The Gospel from John tells the story of Nathanael's encounter with Jesus, where Jesus reveals His divine knowledge, leading Nathanael to confess Him as the Son of God. The context of Revelation is apocalyptic, offering a glimpse into the heavenly Jerusalem, emphasizing God's glory and the fulfillment of His promises. In John, the scene is set in the early days of Jesus' ministry, highlighting the initial moments of faith and recognition of Jesus' divinity among His disciples. Both readings invite us to consider the nature of God's revelation and our response to it. The connection between the readings lies in their focus on seeing and believing. In Revelation, the vision of the New Jerusalem is a future hope, while in John, Nathanael's faith is awakened by Jesus' supernatural knowledge. Both challenge us to seek God's presence in our lives and to trust in His plan, even when it surpasses our understanding. As we reflect on these readings, we are reminded to live with integrity and hope, recognizing ourselves as part of God's people. Like Nathanael, we are called to move beyond doubt and embrace faith, trusting in God's revelation. The moral lesson is clear: our spiritual sight must be sharpened to discern God's presence and to live in accordance with His will, trusting in His promises and seeking His glory in all we do.