Daily Readings - Mon Aug 24 2020
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 are invited to reflect on the themes of revelation, trust, and the ultimate hope of eternal life with God. The first reading from Revelation paints a vivid picture of the New Jerusalem, descending from heaven in all its glory. This vision is not just a future promise but a call to live in hope and anticipation of God’s plan. The second reading from John’s Gospel tells the story of Nathanael’s encounter with Jesus, where Nathanael moves from skepticism to faith, recognizing Jesus as the Son of God. Both readings remind us that God reveals Himself to us in ways that transcend our limited understanding.
The context of Revelation is one of hope and encouragement for persecuted Christians, offering a glimpse of the ultimate triumph of God’s plan. In John’s Gospel, the story of Nathanael emphasizes the importance of trust and openness to God’s revelation. Just as Nathanael trusted Philip and then Jesus, we are called to trust in God’s plan, even when the path is unclear. The New Jerusalem in Revelation and the revelation of Jesus’ identity in John both point to the same truth: God’s presence is our future and our hope.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to live with faith and hope. Like Nathanael, we are invited to “come and see,” to trust in God’s revelation even when we don’t have all the answers. The vision of the New Jerusalem reminds us to keep our eyes fixed on the eternal life God promises, and to live in a way that reflects that hope. Let us strive to trust in God’s plan, just as Nathanael trusted in Jesus, and let us look forward to the day when we will see heaven opened and God’s glory revealed in full.