First Reading

Reading from the Book of Revelation

Revelation 21, 9-14

One of the angels spoke to me and said: «Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.» Then he carried me away in the Spirit to a high mountain and showed me the holy city of Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.

It 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. There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to John

John 1, 45-51

At that time, Philip 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.» «Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?» Nathanael asked. «Come and see,» said Philip.

When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him: «Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.» «How do you know me?» Nathanael asked. Jesus answered: «I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.» Then Nathanael declared: «Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.» Jesus said: «You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.» He then added: «Very truly I tell you, you will see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.»