Daily Readings - Thu Aug 24 2017
Revelation
9Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb."10And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,11having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.12It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed--13on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.14And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
John
45Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."46Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."47Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!"48Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."49Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"50Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these."51And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on 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.