The reading from the book of Revelation today is awesome! It describes the holy city of Jerusalem in heaven, radiating the glory of God like a very rare and precious jewel, as clear as crystal. There are twelve gates with twelve angels attending them and twelve foundations of the city with the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb written on them. It is a little hard to picture such a city, where God Himself will dwell with the human race.
This was the same state of mind that Nathanael was in when he met Jesus for the first time. Nathanael asked Him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Phillip called you.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” When Jesus answers him – you can almost picture him laughing – when he said, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.”
Jesus goes on to explain to Nathanael, what greater things he will see, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” The Lord described heaven with all of the angels surrounding Him, and then the first reading today describes the beauty of the new Jerusalem, shinning with God’s glory. These verses also tell of how the entire city was designed upon the foundation of the apostles.
Today is the Feast of Saint Bartholomew and scholars believe Saint Bartholomew is actually Nathanael who is mentioned in today’s gospel. Very little is known about him other than the fact when Jesus saw Nathanael for the first time he said, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!”
What an awesome way to be acknowledged by Jesus! Jesus acknowledged Nathanael’s holiness and worthiness to be his disciple, immediately, when he first met Him. That’s really something to consider. Do people know that we are a good Christian when they first meet us too? Do we make a good first impression on others, that we are people of integrity, of honesty and deep faith?
A few verses earlier in the same chapter in the book of Revelations, it says that the One who sat on the throne said this:
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water. The victor will inherit these gifts, and I shall be his God, and he will be my son. But as for cowards, the unfaithful, the depraved, murders, the unchaste, sorcerers, idol-worshipers, and deceivers of every sort, their lot is in the burning pool of fire and sulfur, which is the second death.“
Jesus knew Nathanael had no deceit in him and that he had earned a rightful place in heaven, but the (unrepentant) people mentioned in the book of Revelation did not. If you read this list, it is actually pretty scary. Many of the sins in this list are not even against the law in the US. Satanism and witchcraft is protected by federal law in the US and is now a formally recognized religion.
Today is not a day to focus on these things though, but to keep in mind that we are living our lives among people who may not share our values. We would do well to remember that we are “different” – but in a good way!
Jesus said Nathaniel was “truly an Israelite” in whom there was no deceit. Let us try to be “truly a Catholic” wherever we are today as well, so that Jesus will recognize us from afar too!
Even better – may Jesus recognize each one of us from afar, as we approach the gates of the New Jerusalem, that God created for us, to be with Him forever in heaven. Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, what God has planned for those who love Him!
