Daily Readings - Fri Aug 24 2018
Revelation
9And 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.10And 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,11Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;12And 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: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 in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
John
45Philip 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.46And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!48Nathanael 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.49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.50Jesus 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.51And 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
The first reading from Revelation paints a vivid picture of the New Jerusalem, the bride of the Lamb, descending from heaven in all its glory. This vision is not just a description of a place but a symbol of God’s ultimate plan to dwell among His people, free from sin and suffering. The city’s gates and foundations, inscribed with the names of the tribes of Israel and the Apostles, remind us of the unity and continuity of God’s covenant with His people. This is a vision of hope, a reminder that our ultimate home is with God, where He will wipe away every tear.
In the Gospel, we encounter a very human moment of doubt and faith. Nathanael’s skepticism about whether anything good can come from Nazareth reflects our own tendencies to judge based on appearances or limited understanding. Yet, when Philip invites him to “come and see,” Nathanael is transformed by his encounter with Jesus. Jesus’ knowledge of Nathanael’s heart and His promise of greater things to come open Nathanael’s eyes to the divine. This exchange teaches us that faith often begins with an invitation to step beyond our doubts and trust in God’s revelation.
Both readings invite us to reflect on our own journey of faith. Like Nathanael, we are called to move beyond our limited perspectives and trust in God’s plan. The vision of the New Jerusalem reminds us that our ultimate hope is not in this world but in the eternal life God promises. Let us, like Philip, invite others to “come and see” the beauty of God’s love. And let us, like Nathanael, be open to the ways God reveals Himself to us, even in unexpected places. May we live each day with the hope and trust that comes from knowing we are part of God’s plan, and may we never stop seeking the greater things He has in store for us.