Daily Readings - Thu Aug 24 2017
First Reading - Revelation 21.9b-14
Revelation
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Gospel - John 1.45-51
John
Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon 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.