Daily Readings - Mon Aug 24 2020
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 are invited to reflect on the themes of revelation, trust, and the ultimate hope of eternal life with God. The first reading from Revelation paints a vivid picture of the New Jerusalem, descending from heaven in all its glory. This vision is not just a future promise but a call to live in hope and anticipation of God’s plan. The second reading from John’s Gospel tells the story of Nathanael’s encounter with Jesus, where Nathanael moves from skepticism to faith, recognizing Jesus as the Son of God. Both readings remind us that God reveals Himself to us in ways that transcend our limited understanding.
The context of Revelation is one of hope and encouragement for persecuted Christians, offering a glimpse of the ultimate triumph of God’s plan. In John’s Gospel, the story of Nathanael emphasizes the importance of trust and openness to God’s revelation. Just as Nathanael trusted Philip and then Jesus, we are called to trust in God’s plan, even when the path is unclear. The New Jerusalem in Revelation and the revelation of Jesus’ identity in John both point to the same truth: God’s presence is our future and our hope.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to live with faith and hope. Like Nathanael, we are invited to “come and see,” to trust in God’s revelation even when we don’t have all the answers. The vision of the New Jerusalem reminds us to keep our eyes fixed on the eternal life God promises, and to live in a way that reflects that hope. Let us strive to trust in God’s plan, just as Nathanael trusted in Jesus, and let us look forward to the day when we will see heaven opened and God’s glory revealed in full.