Daily Catholic Mass Readings for August 24, 2021
First Reading: Revelation 21.9b-14
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.
Psalm 145
1I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.2Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.3Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.4One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.5They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.6They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.7They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.8The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.9The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.10All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you.11They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might,12so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.14The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.15The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.16You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.17The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.18The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.19He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.20The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.21My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.
Gospel: John 1.45-51
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the vision of God’s ultimate plan for humanity and the call to faith in the midst of uncertainty. In the first reading from Revelation, we are given a glimpse of the Heavenly Jerusalem, a city of breathtaking beauty and perfect harmony. This vision is not just a description of a place but a symbol of the eternal life and communion that God promises to those who remain faithful. The city’s twelve gates and twelve foundations signify the unity and completeness of God’s people, drawn from both the Old and New Covenants. It is a reminder that our ultimate home is not in this world but in the eternal kingdom where God dwells with his people.
In the Gospel, we encounter Nathanael, who is initially skeptical when Philip tells him that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah. Nathanael’s hesitation reflects the human tendency to doubt when faced with something extraordinary or unexpected. Yet, when Nathanael meets Jesus, he is immediately struck by the depth of Jesus’ knowledge and the truth of his identity. Jesus’ words, “You will see greater things than these,” invite Nathanael—and us—to trust in the unfolding of God’s plan, even when we cannot fully see or understand it.
These readings encourage us to live with hope and faith, trusting that God’s promises are greater than our current struggles or uncertainties. Just as Nathanael came to recognize Jesus as the Son of God, we are called to seek and recognize God’s presence in our lives, even in the simplest moments. The vision of the Heavenly Jerusalem reminds us that our ultimate destiny is to live in communion with God and with one another. Let us strive to live in a way that reflects this hope, trusting in God’s plan and seeking to build a community of love and unity here on earth.