Daily Readings - Sat Aug 24 2024
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
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.