Daily Readings - Wed Aug 24 2022
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 plan for humanity. The first reading from Revelation paints a vivid picture of the Holy City Jerusalem, descending from heaven in all its glory. This city, with its twelve gates and foundations, symbolizes the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise—a place where God dwells with humanity forever. The second reading from John’s Gospel offers a more personal encounter: Nathanael’s meeting with Jesus. Despite initial skepticism, Nathanael comes to faith when Jesus reveals his knowledge of Nathanael’s inner life, promising him that he will see even greater things.
These readings are connected by the theme of revelation and invitation. In Revelation, the Angel reveals the bride of the Lamb, the Church, in all its heavenly splendor. In John’s Gospel, Philip invites Nathanael to “come and see,” and Jesus invites him to a deeper faith. Both readings remind us that God continually reveals Himself to us, inviting us into a relationship that transcends the ordinary and opens our eyes to the extraordinary.
In our daily lives, we are called to live as part of this heavenly city, even as we journey on earth. Like Nathanael, we may have doubts or hesitations, but Jesus invites us to trust in His revelation of Himself. Let us approach each day with openness to God’s presence and with the courage to invite others to “come and see” the beauty of faith. May we, like the Holy City, reflect the glory of God in all that we do, and may we, like Nathanael, proclaim Jesus as the Son of God, the King of Israel.