＊＊＊1st Reading＊＊＊

Revelation 21: 9b-14

Then one of the seven angels came to me, one of those with the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues.

And he said, “Come, I am going to show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” He took me up in a spiritual vision to a very high moun­tain and he showed me the holy city Jeru­salem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shines with the glory of God,  like a precious jewel with the color of crystal-clear jasper.

 Its wall, large and high, has twelve gates; stationed at them are twelve angels. Over the gates are written the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. Three gates face the east; three gates face the north; three gates face the south and three face the west. The city wall stands on twelve foundation stones on which are written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

  

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

John 1: 45-51

Philip found Natha­nael and said to him, “We have found the one Moses   wrote about in the Law, and the prophets he is Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”

Nathanael replied, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”  When Jesus saw Nathanael coming, he said of him, “Here comes an Israelite, a true one; there is nothing false in him.” Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?” And Jesus said to him, “Before Philip called you, you were under the fig tree and I saw you.”

 Nathanael answered, “Master, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”  But Jesus replied, “You believe because I said: ‘I saw you under the fig tree.’ But you will see greater things than that.

 Truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

 

Reflection gospel：

“YOU WILL SEE GREATER THINGS THAN THAT.”

When called to do something, we do not know really where it will lead us. However, there is a feeling of assurance, a sense of peace, that everything will just be fine and that we are in the right direction. When God calls, he knows exactly when and how to do it; the timing is so perfect. The call will hit us right at the core in the most opportune time.

Like the question of Nathaniel “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” , we can also ask: “Can anything good come out from us once we follow the call? Can anything good/great happen?” Indeed, great things unfold in life as a result of following the call things beyond our expectations. But they may not be according to our taste, standard, or time frame.

One thing is certain these great things are for the flourishing of God’s very good creation, for the well-being of the Earth’s community of life, and for the expansion of God’s reign. The call is specifically designed for all of these, that is, to contribute to the bringing in of the reign of God on Earth, a reign of love, justice, and peace. The call is intended to accomplish just this.