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From: Revelation 21:9b-14

A New World Comes Into Being. The New Jerusalem

[9b] (One of the seven angels) spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show
you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” [10] And in the Spirit he carried me
away to a great high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem
coming down out of heaven from God, [11] having the glory of God, its
radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. [12] It
had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels,
and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were
inscribed; [13] on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the
south three gates, and on the west three gates. [14] And the wall of the
city had twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve
apostles of the Lamb.

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Commentary:

9-21. In contrast with the punishment visited on the evil city, Babylon, the
harlot (cf. 17:1), we are now shown the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, the
spouse, coming down from heaven. There is a significant parallel between
17:1ff and 21:9ff.

The author writes with a truly remarkable mastery of language: after the
introduction (v. 9), he describes the Holy City using three literary devices
which, after giving the measurements of the city, he repeats in more or less
reverse order. The description is like the impressions a traveler has as he
approaches: first, from afar, he sees its radiance—the city as a whole and
the glory of God (vv. 10-11); as he comes closer he can distinguish walls
and gates (vv. 12-13), and when closer still its foundation stones (v. 14).
Once inside, he realizes its sheer scale (vv. 15-16) and is able to assess
the size and richness of its walls (vv. 17-18) and foundation stones and
gates (vv. 19-21); and he is spellbound by the brightness that shines from
the glory of God (21:22-22:5).

The city is given the titles of Bride and Wife (Spouse) which are normally
used to designate the Church (cf. 19:7). This is easy to understand in the
context of the imagery used: the city represents the Church, the community
of the elect viewed in its complete, indissoluble union with the Lamb.

10-14. This vision is rather like the one the prophet Ezekiel had when
he saw the New Jerusalem and the temple of the future (cf. Ezek 40-42).
However, St John stresses (cf. also 21:2) that the city comes down from
heaven: this shows that the full establishment (so long desired) of the
messianic kingdom will be brought about by the power of God and in line
with his will.

The description of the Holy City begins with the view from outside. This is
the first thing that is seen and it is what makes it strong and unassailable.
He speaks of walls and gates and foundations. The names of the tribes of
Israel and the twelve Apostles show the continuity between the ancient
chosen people and the Church of Christ; and yet the point is made that the
Church is something quite new which rests on the twelve Apostles of the
Lord (cf. Eph 2:20). The arrangement of the gates, in threes facing the four
points of the compass, indicates that the Church is universal: all nations
must come to it to gain salvation. This is what St Augustine means when
he says that “outside the catholic Church one can find everything except
salvation” (”Sermo Ad Cassar”, 6).

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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

From: John 1:45-51

The Calling of the First Disciples

[45] Philip found Nathaniel, and said to him, “We have found Him of
whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth,
the son of Joseph.” [46] Nathaniel said to him, “Can anything good
come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” [47] Jesus
saw Nathaniel coming to Him, and said to him, “Behold, an Israelite
indeed, in whom is no guile!” [48] Nathaniel said to Him, “How do you
know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you
were under the fig tree, I saw you.” [49] Nathaniel answered Him,
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel! [50] Jesus
answered him, “Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do
you believe? You shall see greater things than these.” [51] And He
said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see Heaven opened,
and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

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Commentary:

45-51. The Apostle Philip is so moved that he cannot but tell his friend
Nathanael (Bartholomew) about his wonderful discovery (verse 45).
“Nathanael had heard from Scripture that Jesus must come from Beth-
lehem, from the people of David. This belief prevailed among the Jews
and also the prophet had proclaimed it of old, saying: `But you, O Beth-
lehem, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall
come forth for me one who is to be ruler of Israel’ (Micah 5:2). Therefore,
when he heard that He was from Nazareth, he was troubled and in doubt,
since he found that the announcement of Philip was not in agreement
with the words of the prophecy” (St. John Chrysostom, “Hom. on St.
John”, 20, 1).

A Christian may find that, in trying to communicate his faith to others,
they raise difficulties. What should he do? What Philip did—not trust
his own explanation, but invite them to approach Jesus personally:
“Come and see” (verse 46). In other words, a Christian should bring
his fellow-men, his brothers into Jesus’ presence through the means
of grace which He has given them and which the Church ministers —
frequent reception of the sacraments, and devout Christian practices.

Nathanael, a sincere person (verse 47), goes along with Philip to see
Jesus; he makes personal contact with our Lord (verse 48), and the
outcome is that he receives faith (the result of his ready reception of
grace, which reaches him through Christ’s human nature: verse 49).

As far as we can deduce from the Gospels, Nathanael is the first
Apostle to make an explicit confession of faith in Jesus as Messiah
and as Son of God. Later on St. Peter, in a more formal way, will
recognize our Lord’s divinity (cf. Matthew 16:16). Here (verse 51)
Jesus evokes a text from Daniel (7:13) to confirm and give deeper
meaning to the words spoken by His new disciple.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

Saint Bartholomew, Apostle

Saint Bartholomew, Apostle
Feast Day
August 24th

Saint Agnes, Saint Bartholomew and Saint Cecilia
MASTER of the Saint Bartholomew Altar
Alte Pinakothek, Munich

Bartholomew was from Cana in Galilee. Mentioned in the gospels as one of the twelve apostles, he is identified with Nathanael. His friend, the apostle Philip, brought him to Jesus. According to tradion, St. Bartholomew preached the Gospel in India and died there a martyr.

Collect:
Strengthen in us, O Lord, the faith,
by which the blessed Apostle Bartholomew
clung wholeheartedly to your Son,
and grant that through the help of his prayers
your Church may become for all the nations
the sacrament of salvation.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. +Amen.

First Reading:
Revelation 21: 9b-14
Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues, and spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb." And in the Spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed; on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Gospel Reading:
John 1: 45-51
Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathana-el said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."