Daily Readings - Wed Aug 24 2022
Revelation
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
John
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 plan for humanity. The first reading from Revelation paints a vivid picture of the Holy City Jerusalem, descending from heaven in all its glory. This city, with its twelve gates and foundations, symbolizes the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise—a place where God dwells with humanity forever. The second reading from John’s Gospel offers a more personal encounter: Nathanael’s meeting with Jesus. Despite initial skepticism, Nathanael comes to faith when Jesus reveals his knowledge of Nathanael’s inner life, promising him that he will see even greater things.
These readings are connected by the theme of revelation and invitation. In Revelation, the Angel reveals the bride of the Lamb, the Church, in all its heavenly splendor. In John’s Gospel, Philip invites Nathanael to “come and see,” and Jesus invites him to a deeper faith. Both readings remind us that God continually reveals Himself to us, inviting us into a relationship that transcends the ordinary and opens our eyes to the extraordinary.
In our daily lives, we are called to live as part of this heavenly city, even as we journey on earth. Like Nathanael, we may have doubts or hesitations, but Jesus invites us to trust in His revelation of Himself. Let us approach each day with openness to God’s presence and with the courage to invite others to “come and see” the beauty of faith. May we, like the Holy City, reflect the glory of God in all that we do, and may we, like Nathanael, proclaim Jesus as the Son of God, the King of Israel.