Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 24, 2024
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 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.