Daily Readings - Sat Aug 24 2024
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 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.