Daily Readings - Sat Aug 24 2024
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
The first reading from Revelation paints a vivid picture of the Holy City Jerusalem descending from heaven, resplendent with the glory of God. This vision is a profound symbol of the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan for humanity—a place where God dwells among His people, free from suffering and death. The city’s structure, with its twelve gates and twelve foundations, signifies the unity and completeness of God’s people, drawn from both the Old and New Covenants. This passage invites us to gaze upon the final reality of our faith: eternal life in the presence of God.
The Gospel reading from John tells the story of Nathanael’s encounter with Jesus. Nathanael’s initial skepticism about whether anything good could come from Nazareth is met with Philip’s simple yet powerful invitation: “Come and see.” This encounter reveals the heart of evangelization—sharing the Good News with others and inviting them to experience Jesus for themselves. Nathanael’s transformation from doubt to faith, upon recognizing Jesus as the Son of God, reminds us that true belief often begins with an openness to God’s revelation and a willingness to step beyond our preconceptions.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and our role in sharing His love with others. Revelation calls us to hope in the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises, while the Gospel challenges us to be like Philip—witnesses who invite others to encounter Jesus. In our daily lives, we are called to live with our eyes fixed on heaven while actively engaging in the mission of bringing others closer to Christ. Let us ask ourselves: Are we open to God’s invitations in our lives? Are we willing to invite others to “come and see” the beauty of His love? May we, like Nathanael, allow Jesus to reveal Himself to us, and may we, like Philip, share that revelation with the world.