Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 24, 2021
First Reading: Revelation 21.9b-14
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.
Psalm 145
1I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.2Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.3Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.4One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.5On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.6They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness.7They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.8The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.9The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.10All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you!11They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power,12to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.[The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]14The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.15The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.16You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.17The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.18The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.19He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.20The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.21My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Gospel: John 1.45-51
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the vision of God’s ultimate plan for humanity and the call to faith in the midst of uncertainty. In the first reading from Revelation, we are given a glimpse of the Heavenly Jerusalem, a city of breathtaking beauty and perfect harmony. This vision is not just a description of a place but a symbol of the eternal life and communion that God promises to those who remain faithful. The city’s twelve gates and twelve foundations signify the unity and completeness of God’s people, drawn from both the Old and New Covenants. It is a reminder that our ultimate home is not in this world but in the eternal kingdom where God dwells with his people.
In the Gospel, we encounter Nathanael, who is initially skeptical when Philip tells him that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah. Nathanael’s hesitation reflects the human tendency to doubt when faced with something extraordinary or unexpected. Yet, when Nathanael meets Jesus, he is immediately struck by the depth of Jesus’ knowledge and the truth of his identity. Jesus’ words, “You will see greater things than these,” invite Nathanael—and us—to trust in the unfolding of God’s plan, even when we cannot fully see or understand it.
These readings encourage us to live with hope and faith, trusting that God’s promises are greater than our current struggles or uncertainties. Just as Nathanael came to recognize Jesus as the Son of God, we are called to seek and recognize God’s presence in our lives, even in the simplest moments. The vision of the Heavenly Jerusalem reminds us that our ultimate destiny is to live in communion with God and with one another. Let us strive to live in a way that reflects this hope, trusting in God’s plan and seeking to build a community of love and unity here on earth.