The Book of Revelation or Apocalypse was written in a style that is different from that of the other books of the New Testament. Although we may find it difficult to understand, this literary style was very popular in some Jewish circles in the early Christian era. The author uses symbols and signs to describe visions of supernatural events.

In the first reading of today, the visionary was told that he would be shown the "bride the lamb had married", and what he saw was "the holy city, coming down from God". The imagery of the "bride" indicates a deep and loving relationship, while the "holy city coming down from God" suggests the divine and holy origin of the new Jerusalem. Both images describe the Church - as a community of God's people. It is a community that is loved and cherished by God and is precious to Him. It is also a community that takes its origin from God and stands on "twelve foundation stones, each one of which bore the name of one of the twelve Apostles."

At this point, we can relate the first reading with the second taken from the Gospel of St John. It narrates the meeting of Jesus and Nathanael, believed to be Bartholomew, one of Jesus' Apostles whose feast the Church celebrates today.

Reflecting upon the readings, we come to a greater awareness of God's design for the new Jerusalem, which is that it should be the Church - a community of God's people.