Daily Readings - Thu Aug 24 2017
Revelation
9One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."10And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.11It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.12It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.13There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west.14The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
John
45Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."46"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip.47When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false."48"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you."49Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."50Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that."51He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on 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.