Reading 1
Rv 21:9b-14
The angel spoke to me, saying,
"Come here.
I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."
He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain
and showed me the holy city Jerusalem
coming down out of heaven from God.
It gleamed with the splendor of God.
Its radiance was like that of a precious stone,
like jasper, clear as crystal.
It had a massive, high wall,
with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed
and on which names were inscribed,
the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.
There were three gates facing east,
three north, three south, and three west.
The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation,
on which were inscribed the twelve names
of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18R. (12)
Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Making known to men your might
and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
Gospel
Jn 1:45-51
Philip found Nathanael and told him,
"We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law,
and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth."
But Nathanael said to him,
"Can anything good come from Nazareth?"
Philip said to him, "Come and see."
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
"Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him."
Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?"
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree."
Nathanael answered him,
"Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this."
And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened and the angels of God
ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
Meditation: John 1:45-51
St. Bartholomew<
You will see heaven opened. (John 1:51)
Under a fig tree. That’s where Nathanael (Bartholomew) was when Jesus “saw” him (John 1:48). What was he doing there? Eating lunch? Thinking about his to-do list? Daydreaming? Some have speculated that because it was traditional to study the Scriptures under a fig tree, Nathanael may have been meditating on God’s promises. If so, it was the perfect prelude to meeting Jesus.
For centuries, God’s promises had sustained Israel with powerful visions of hope. A radiant bride, a city and temple shimmering with the glory of the Lord—the images pointed to a peaceful future when God would live among his people and make them into a light to the other nations. Nathanael must have drawn strength from reflecting on this life to come, even as he suffered under Roman occupation. Perhaps this gave him eyes to recognize Jesus as the “Son of God” and “King of Israel” who would set things right (John 1:49). And Jesus replied, in essence: Keep watching. Have faith. You haven’t seen anything yet!
That’s what Jesus tells us, too. Like Nathanael, we have wonderful images of the life to come. And we even know that this life has already begun. Baptized into Christ, we have been saved, made into God’s people and citizens of heaven. Now, as St. Catherine of Siena said: “All the way to heaven is heaven.” Just as Nathanael sat under a fig tree contemplating God’s promises, we too can set aside time for quiet, hopeful contemplation. We can try to imagine what heaven will be like. We can imagine Jesus surrounded by the angels and saints. We can even think about our loved ones who have gone before us and picture them with Jesus, praying for us, cheering us on, and rejoicing every time we act in faith.
Today, then, go and sit under your fig tree, wherever that may be—an armchair, your prayer corner, the Adoration chapel. If you don’t have one, find the place wherever prayer comes easiest. Lift your heart to the Lord and let his promises fill your mind. Then be still, and listen for his voice.
“Jesus, by your cross and resurrection, you have thrown heaven wide open. Let me see your glory and follow your gospel!”
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