Daily Readings - Sat Aug 24 2019
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
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the vision of God’s ultimate plan for humanity and the call to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. The first reading from Revelation paints a vivid picture of the New Jerusalem, the bride of the Lamb, descending from heaven. This city is not just a physical place but a symbol of God’s eternal presence among His people, a place of beauty, light, and perfect order. The twelve gates and twelve foundations signify the unity and completeness of God’s people, with the names of the tribes of Israel and the Apostles representing the continuity of God’s covenant from the Old Testament to the New.
The Gospel reading from John continues this theme of revelation and recognition. Philip introduces Nathanael to Jesus, and Nathanael, though initially skeptical, comes to faith when Jesus reveals His knowledge of Nathanael’s heart. Jesus’ words, “You will see greater things than these,” remind us that our faith is not static but dynamic, leading us to deeper encounters with God. Nathanael’s profession of faith, “You are the Son of God, the King of Israel,” shows the transformative power of encountering Christ.
These readings remind us that our lives are part of a larger story—God’s story of love and redemption. Like Nathanael, we are called to move beyond doubt and skepticism to a place of trust and faith. The vision of the New Jerusalem encourages us to live with hope, knowing that God is building a community of love and light. Let us ask for the grace to recognize God’s presence in our lives, to trust in His plan, and to live as part of His holy city, even as we journey through this world.