24.8.2023 – Thứ Năm. Thánh Batôlômêô tông đồ

Lễ kính thánh Batôlômêô
Lạy Chúa Giêsu Thánh Thể, Thiên Chúa Cha đã yêu thương loài người chúng con, Chúa đã sai con một của Cha là là Chúa Giêsu Kitô xuống thế gian để mở đường vào thiên đàng cho mỗi người chúng con. Như chính Chúa đã tỏ mình ra cho các tông đồ yêu quý của Chúa và những người theo Chúa, xin Chúa cũng hãy tỏ mình ra cho chúng con để chúng con có thể nhận ra sự hiện diện của Chúa với chúng con và để chúng con biết được quyền năng của vương quốc Chúa đang hoạt động trong cuộc sống của chúng con. Xin Chúa ban cho chúng con luôn tìm thấy niềm vui và bình an trước sự hiện diện của Chúa và không bao giờ đánh mất vương quốc vĩnh cửu của Chúa.
 
Thưa quý ÔBACE,
Hôm nay, Giáo Hội tôn vinh một trong Mười Hai vị Tông Đồ mà Chúa Giêsu đã tuyển chọn để thành lập Giáo Hội của Ngài và đi đến tận cùng trái đất để chia sẻ Tin Mừng. Đó là thánh Batôlômêô, như tên của ông trong Phúc âm, rất có thể không phải là tên thật của ông, mà là một mô tả về dòng dõi của ông. Tên của ông trong tiếng Aramaic là bar-Tôlmay, được dịch là “con trai của Tolmai”. Mặc dù có đề cập đến những người khác có tên Tolmai trong Cựu Ước nhưng không có thông tin gì về cha mẹ hoặc lý lịch của ông Bartholomew. Mặc dù không có gì chắc chắn về Batôlômêô, nhưng hầu hết các học giả đều đồng ý rằng ông Batôlômêô được đề cập trong Tin Mừng Nhất Lãm chính là người như ông Na-tha-na-ên trong Tin Mừng Gioan. Do đó, có thể “ông Na-tha-na-ên, con trai của Tolmai” là tên đầy đủ của vị thánh Tông đồ mà chúng ta kính nhớ hôm nay.
Là một trong Nhóm Mười Hai người ông Na-tha-na-ên  hay Batôlômêô đã đồng hành cùng Chúa Giêsu trong suốt cuộc hành trình rao giảng công khai của Chúa Giêsu. Ông đã học nơi Ngài, được Ngài hình thành và ông đã dâng hiến cuộc đời mình cho Ngài. Ông đã chứng kiến Chúa Giêsu bị bắt, trải nghiệm cái chết của Ngài từ xa và sau đó tận mắt chứng kiến Ngài sống lại. Khi Chúa Giêsu lên trời, ông Batôlômêô nằm trong số những người được Chúa Giêsu phán bảo: “Nhưng khi Chúa Thánh Thần ngự xuống trên các con, các con sẽ nhận được sức mạnh và làm chứng cho Thầy tại Giêrusalem, khắp Giuđêa, Samaria và cho đến tận cùng trái đất”. (Công vụ 1:8). Và: “ các con hãy đi thâu nạp môn đồ khắp muôn dân, thanh tẩy chúng nhân danh Cha và Con và Thánh Thần,  Dạy chúng giữ hết mọi điều Ta đã truyền cho các ngươi. Và Ta sẽ ở với các ngươi mọi ngày cho đến tận thế". (Mt. 28:19–20).
Bài học đầu tiên để chúng ta suy ngẫm hôm nay là niềm tin đích thực vào Thiên Chúa. Có lẽ chúng ta cũng giống như ông Na-tha-na-ên , chúng ta rất dễ dàng nghi ngờ về đức tin của chúng ta, vì chúng ta không hiểu hết các các Tin Mừng. Có lẽ nếu ông Philipphê đến và nói với ông Na-tha-na-ên hay Batôlômêô rằng Chúa Giêsu đã sinh ra ở Bethlehem nhưng lớn lên ở Nazareth, thì ông Batôlômêô có thể đã cởi mở hơn ngay lập tức tin vào lời ông Philipphê. Nhưng cuộc gặp gỡ này rất có thể đã diễn ra như nó đã xảy ra, với sự nghi ngờ ban đầu của ông Batôlômêô , bởi vì Chúa Thánh Thần, Đấng đã soi dẫn những đoạn Kinh thánh này, muốn chúng ta học một bài học quan trọng. Bài học chúng ta phải học là chúng ta không được đóng cánh cửa Sự thật chỉ vì điều gì đó không có ý nghĩa rõ ràng đối với chúng ta. Sự nghi ngờ không bao giờ đến từ Chúa. Tin vui trong đoạn Tin Mừng này là, mặc dù ông Batôlômêô  đã lập tức bày tỏ sự nghi ngờ nhất định, nhưng ông vẫn cởi mở với những gì ông Philipphê đã nói. Để trả lời cho sự nghi ngờ này ông Ông Philipphê đã nói điều tốt nhất mà anh ấy có thể nói. “Hãy đến xem.”
Điều gì trong cuộc sống của chúng ta liên quan đến cuộc sống hay liên quan đến nhiều chân lý trong đức tin của chúng ta đã khiến cho chúng ta phải băn khoanh và bối rối?
Nếu có điều gì mà chúng ta đang gặp khó khăn theo cách này, thì chúng ta hãy lắng nghe và làm theo những lời của ông Philipphê là: “Hãy đến mà xem”.
Khi ông Phi-líp đưa ông Batôlômêô đến với Chúa Giêsu, ông Batôlômêô nhanh chóng tuyên xưng đức tin trọn vẹn nơi Chúa Giê-su là “Lạy Thầy, Thầy là Con Thiên Chúa, là Vua dân Y-sơ-ra-ên”. Chúa Giêsu đã nói rất ít để thuyết phục ông Batôlômêô về những lẽ thật này. Chúa Giêsu chỉ nói với ông Na-tha-na-ên rằng Ngài đã nhìn thấy ông ngồi dưới gốc cây vả và Ngài biết ông Batôlômêô là một người không hề dối trá. Không gian dối có nghĩa là chúng ta không phải là người hai mặt; đúng hơn, chúng ta phải giống như ông Nathanên, chúng ta phải là một người trung thực và thẳng thắn. Việc ông Na-tha-na-ên đã nhận ra sự vĩ đại của Chúa Giêsu ông ta chỉ có thể đến với Chúa là nhờ ân sủng tác động trong tâm hồn của ông. Ông đến gặp Chúa Giêsu và tin vào Chúa là nhờ hồng ân đức tin nội tâm của ông.
Bài học của ông Na-tha-na-ên  hay Bartholomew dạy cho chúng ta rằng nếu chúng ta biết trình bày những bối rối lo âu của mình với Chúa trong đức tin và với sự cởi mở, thì tất cả sẽ được sáng tỏ. Chúng ta sẽ loại bỏ được những cám dỗ nghi ngờ, và chúng ta sẽ có thể có được niềm tin vượt xa lý trí của con người.
Hôm nay, chúng ta hãy suy ngẫm về tính chân thật và cởi mở của tâm hồn nơi ông Na-tha-na-ên. Chúng ta hãy dâng lên Chúa tất cả những thắc mắc trong lòng hay những câu hỏi nào mà chúng ta mong muốn rằng chúng ta sẽ nhận được những gì chúng ta cần. Niềm tin thường không đến từ những lập luận thuyết phục hay những lý luận suy diễn chi tiết. Niềm Tin thường đến qua sự cởi mở trong sáng và đơn giản đối với Tiếng Chúa phán trong tâm hồn của chúng ta. Nhưng khi hồng ân đức tin được ban tặng, thì hồng ân đức tin này mang theo một sự chắc chắn thánh thiện không thể nghi ngờ.
Lạy Chúa Giêsu Thánh Thể đáng yêu dấu của chúng con, Chúa mời gọi tất cả chúng con đến với Chúa, để gặp gỡ Chúa và tin vào Chúa. Chúa thực sự là Con Thiên Chúa và là Vua của mọi người. Xin Chúa hãy mở tâm trí chúng con để chúng con đón nhận tất cả những gì Chúa muốn nói với chúng con để cchusng con có thể rũ bỏ những nghi ngờ và có được một đức tin biến đổi trong mọi sự. Lạy Chúa Jesu Thánh Thể, Chúng con tin vào Chúa, chúng con yêu mến Chúa. Amen.
 
Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle, August 24
Heavenly Father, through your Son Jesus Christ, you have opened the way to heaven for each one of us. As you personally revealed yourself to your beloved apostles and people followed you, so reveal yourself to us that we may recognize your presence with us and know the power of your kingdom at work in our life. May we always find joy and peace in your presence and never lose sight of your everlasting kingdom.
Today, the Church honors one of the Twelve Apostles whom Jesus handpicked to form His Church and to go forth to the ends of the earth to share the Good News. Bartholomew, as he is named in the Gospels, is most likely not his actual name, but a description of his lineage. His name in Aramaic is bar-Tôlmay, which is translated as “son of Tolmai.” While there are mentions of others named Tolmai in the Old Testament, nothing is known about Bartholomew’s father or background. Though nothing is certain about “Bartholomew,” most scholars agree that the Bartholomew mentioned in the Synoptic Gospels is the same person as Na-tha-na-ên  in John’s Gospel. Hence, it might be that “Nathanael, the son of Tolmai,” is the full name of today’s saint.
As one of the Twelve, Nathanael accompanied Jesus throughout his public ministry. He learned from Him, was formed by Him, and gave his life to Him. He witnessed Jesus’ arrest, experienced His death from a distance, and then saw Him resurrected with his own eyes. When Jesus ascended to Heaven, Nathanael was among those whom Jesus told, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). And, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20).
The first lesson to ponder today is that, just like Nathanael, we can easily doubt matters of faith because we do not fully understand. Perhaps if Philip had come and said that Jesus was born in Bethlehem but raised in Nazareth, then Nathanael may have been more immediately open. But this encounter most likely unfolded as it did, with Nathanael’s initial doubt, because the Holy Spirit, Who inspired these Scriptures, wanted us to learn an important lesson. The lesson we must learn is that we must not close the door on the Truth just because something doesn’t immediately make sense to us. Doubts are never from God. The good news in this Gospel passage is that, even though Nathanael did immediately express a certain doubt, he remained open to what Philip was saying. Philip, in answer to this doubt, said the best thing he could have said. He said, “Come and see.”
What is it in your life that seems confusing to you in regard to your life or in regard to the many truths of our faith? If there is something that you struggle with in this way, then listen to the words of Philip and allow them to be spoken to you: “Come and see.”
Once Philip brought Nathanael to Jesus, Nathanael quickly professed his full faith in Jesus as the “Son of God” and the “King of Israel.” Jesus said very little to Nathanael to convince him of these truths. Jesus simply told Nathanael that he had seen him sitting under the fig tree and that He knew that Nathanael was a man without guile. To be without guile means that you are not two-faced; rather, you are a very honest and straightforward person. Nathanael’s immediate realization of the greatness of Jesus could have only come by the gift of grace working in his soul. He came to see Jesus and believed through the interior gift of faith.
The lesson of Nathanael tells us that if we bring our confusion to our Lord in faith and openness, all will be made clear. We will have our temptations to doubt removed, and we will be able to have faith that goes far beyond human reason alone.
Reflect, today, upon the genuineness and openness of the heart of Nathanael. Bring to our Lord any and every question you have with the expectation that you will receive what you need. Faith does not usually come through convincing arguments or detailed deductive reasoning. It normally comes through a pure and simple openness to the Voice of God speaking within our soul. But when the gift of faith is given, it brings with it a holy certainty that cannot be doubted.
My loving Lord, You invite all of us to come to You, to see You and to have faith in You. You truly are the Son of God and the King of all. Please open my mind to all that You wish to say to me so that I may shed my doubts and come to a transforming faith in all things. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle, August 24
Today, the Church honors one of the Twelve Apostles whom Jesus handpicked to form His Church and to go forth to the ends of the earth to share the Good News. Bartholomew, as he is named in the Synoptic Gospels, is most likely not his actual name, but a description of his lineage. His name in Aramaic is bar-Tôlmay, which is translated as “son of Tolmai.” While there are mentions of others named Tolmai in the Old Testament, nothing is known about Bartholomew’s father or background. Though nothing is certain about “Bartholomew,” most scholars agree that the Bartholomew mentioned in the Synoptics is the same person as Nathanael in John’s Gospel. Hence, it might be that “Nathanael, the son of Tolmai,” is the full name of today’s saint.
The only mentions of Bartholomew in the Synoptic Gospels are in the lists of the Apostles (Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, and Luke 6:14-16). The Acts of the Apostles mentions him as one of the Apostles present in Jerusalem after Jesus’ ascension (Acts 1:13). In John’s Gospel, there are only two mentions of Nathanael (John 1:45-51 and John 21:2). The former relates the calling of Nathanael, and the latter identifies him as one of the seven who were present when Jesus appeared to them at the Sea of Galilee after His resurrection. Although the most significant thing we know about Nathanael from these passages is that he was chosen by our Lord to be one of the Twelve Apostles, the story of his calling and the discourse he has with Jesus provides much to ponder.
In John 1:43-51, we read that Jesus found Philip when He went to Galilee and simply said to him, “Follow me.” Philip appears to immediately follow. Philip is so excited that he finds Nathanael, who might have been his friend or relative. He says to Nathanael, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” This was the first time Nathanael heard the beginnings of the Good News, which he would later preach with all his heart. Like many people, Nathanael is initially skeptical. He retorts, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip’s response is ideal and clearly inspired by the Holy Spirit. Philip tells Nathanael, “Come and see.” And that’s what Nathanael does.
It’s important to pause here and ponder Nathanael’s response to his first invitation to come to Jesus. “Come and see” is a phrase that applies to all of us. In countless ways, God sends us that invitation every day. It’s not enough to simply hear about Jesus. It’s not enough to only read about Him, or even to study Him. We must come to meet Him, meet the Person, and encounter Him. Nathanael did this in human form; we are invited to do it in somewhat the same way.
Because of His Incarnation, the Son of God is able to come to us, personally, truly, and substantially. When we pray, we do not only speak or listen to a distant god. We are able to come to the true God Who is able to communicate to us in a way that will convince us of His love, so that we will follow Him with our whole being. This is what happened to Nathanael. Yes, he saw the physical presence of the Son of God with his eyes, but just as in our case, the Son of God came to Nathanael in hidden form. Jesus did not radiate light, He was not continuously transfigured in glory. He was hidden in the form of a man, yet truly present as God. So it is with us. Every time we turn to our Lord in prayer, attend the Holy Mass, adore the Holy Eucharist, or read the Living Word of the Bible, we encounter the same God whom Nathanael did that first day.
When Nathanael came to Jesus, Jesus said to him, “Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him.” Jesus had read Nathanael’s heart and revealed it to him. Nathanael inquired further about how Jesus knew him, and Jesus replied that He had seen Nathanael sitting under a fig tree. That’s all Jesus said! Nonetheless, this touched Nathanael so deeply that, with this short comment from Jesus, Nathanael was converted. He cries out, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” It wasn’t Jesus’ words that touched Nathanael, it was His divine Person, masked behind His human form. Nathanael’s soul perceived the presence of God in Jesus, and he immediately became His follower. We must do the same.
As one of the Twelve, Nathanael accompanied Jesus throughout his public ministry. He learned from Him, was formed by Him, and gave his life to Him. He witnessed Jesus’ arrest, experienced His death from a distance, and then saw Him resurrected with his own eyes. When Jesus ascended to Heaven, Nathanael was among those whom Jesus told, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). And, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20).
Though we do not know for certain how Nathanael, son of Tolmai (Bartholomew), fulfilled this Great Commission that he received from Jesus Himself, one early tradition from Eusebius of Caesarea, a Church historian from the third to fourth century, stated that he went to India where he left a copy of the Gospel of Matthew. Later traditions state that he also went to Armenia, Ethiopia, Mesopotamia, Parthia, and Lycaonia. Some traditions say that he was martyred in a city named Albanopolis, which might be one of two ancient towns either in modern-day Armenia or Albania. Those traditions state that he was beheaded or flayed alive and crucified upside down in retribution for converting the King of Armenia. It is for this reason that Saint Bartholomew often appears in sacred art holding his skin, such as in Michelangelo’s Last Judgment scene found in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican.
Though legends are hard to prove or disprove, what we know for certain is that when this man met Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the King of Israel, his life was forever changed. The same must be said of each one of us. We must meet our Lord, encounter Him personally, allow His divine presence to change our lives, and never look back. Ponder your own willingness to imitate the conversion of Saint Bartholomew and seek his intercession today.
Saint Bartholomew, you met Jesus, the Nazarene, and you immediately discerned Him to be the Son of God, the King of Israel. Your openness to divine grace enabled our Lord to touch your soul and change you forever. Please pray for me, that I will also be open to the divine presence of the Son of God so that He can touch my soul and change my life. Saint Bartholomew, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle, August 24
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.” John 1:45–46
Nathanael, who also goes by the name Bartholomew, reacted strongly to the news from his friend Philip that they had found the promised Messiah. Why did Nathanael react this way? Most likely because it was common knowledge among the Jews that the promised Messiah would come from Bethlehem, not from Nazareth. So Nathanael immediately raises this doubt because of Jesus’ supposed origin. Of course, Jesus actually was born in Bethlehem and only later moved to Nazareth, but Nathanael did not immediately realize this.
The first lesson to ponder today is that, just like Nathanael, we can easily doubt matters of faith because we do not fully understand. Perhaps if Philip had come and said that Jesus was born in Bethlehem but raised in Nazareth, then Nathanael may have been more immediately open. But this encounter most likely unfolded as it did, with Nathanael’s initial doubt, because the Holy Spirit, Who inspired these Scriptures, wanted us to learn an important lesson. The lesson we must learn is that we must not close the door on the Truth just because something doesn’t immediately make sense to us. Doubts are never from God. The good news in this Gospel passage is that, even though Nathanael did immediately express a certain doubt, he remained open to what Philip was saying. Philip, in answer to this doubt, said the best thing he could have said. He said, “Come and see.”
What is it in your life that seems confusing to you in regard to your life or in regard to the many truths of our faith? If there is something that you struggle with in this way, then listen to the words of Philip and allow them to be spoken to you: “Come and see.”
Once Philip brought Nathanael to Jesus, Nathanael quickly professed his full faith in Jesus as the “Son of God” and the “King of Israel.” Jesus said very little to Nathanael to convince him of these truths. Jesus simply told Nathanael that he had seen him sitting under the fig tree and that He knew that Nathanael was a man without guile. To be without guile means that you are not two-faced; rather, you are a very honest and straightforward person. Nathanael’s immediate realization of the greatness of Jesus could have only come by the gift of grace working in his soul. He came to see Jesus and believed through the interior gift of faith.
The lesson of Nathanael tells us that if we bring our confusion to our Lord in faith and openness, all will be made clear. We will have our temptations to doubt removed, and we will be able to have faith that goes far beyond human reason alone.
Reflect, today, upon the genuineness and openness of the heart of Nathanael. Bring to our Lord any and every question you have with the expectation that you will receive what you need. Faith does not usually come through convincing arguments or detailed deductive reasoning. It normally comes through a pure and simple openness to the Voice of God speaking within our soul. But when the gift of faith is given, it brings with it a holy certainty that cannot be doubted.
My loving Lord, You invite all of us to come to You, to see You and to have faith in You. You truly are the Son of God and the King of all. Please open my mind to all that You wish to say to me so that I may shed my doubts and come to a transforming faith in all things. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Meditation: How can we know with certainty that Jesus is truly who he claims to be - the Son of God and Savior of the world? Philip was eager to tell his friend Nathaniel (who is also known as Bartholomew in Matthew 10:3 and Luke 6:14) about his decision to be a disciple of Jesus. Philip tried to convince his friend that Jesus was the Messiah, whom Moses and the prophets had foretold would come. Nathanial was very skeptical because he didn't think it was possible for the Messiah to come from Nazareth, a town in Galilee. Nathaniel not only disliked the town of Nazareth, he despised its residents as unworthy Jews. "How could anything good come from such a place?"
Nazareth was at the crossroads of the ancient world where people from different cultures and religions would pass through. Perhaps Nathaniel thought its religious teachers were not orthodox enough in their understanding and interpretation of the law of Moses. Besides, how could the Messiah come from Galilee when the prophets said he would come from Bethlehem of Judaea? Aren't we all a bit like Nathaniel? We are skeptical when someone tries to convince us of the truth until we can comprehend it for ourselves. 
So what kind of proof did Philip offer to Nathanael? Rather than argue with his friend, Philip took the wiser strategy of inviting Nathanael to "come and see" for himself who this Jesus claimed to be. Clever arguments rarely win people to the Gospel - but an encounter with the person of Jesus Christ can change one's life forever. When people are receptive to the word of Christ and when they see his love in action, the Lord Jesus himself, through the power of the Holy Spirit, touches their hearts and opens their minds to recognize that he truly is the Son of God who reveals the Father's love and truth to us.
When Philip brought Nathanael to Jesus, Jesus did something, which only God could do! He opened Nathanael's heart and his innermost thoughts and desires to God's revelation. Jesus called Nathanael a true "Israelite in whom there is no guile." God had chosen Jacob, who was given the name Israel, over his twin brother Essau, because Jacob was a man of faith, without guile or cunning like Essau (Genesis 25:27). Nathanael, like Jacob, hungered for God and believed in God's promises. Nathanael knew the Scriptures. He had read the law and the prophets. And like Jacob he was waiting for the fulfillment of God's promises to his people Israel. Nathanael was an earnest seeker of God. He not only sought to grow in understanding of God's word, but he sought an intimate personal relationship with God as well. That is why he was willing to meet Jesus, to see if perhaps this miracle worker from Galilee might be the long-awaited Messiah and Savior.
God's word brings blessing and refreshment for those who receive it
What is the significance of Jesus' revelation of seeing Nathanael "under the fig tree"? For the people of Israel, the fig tree was a symbol of God's peace and blessing (1 Kings 4:24b-25, Micah 4:4). It provided shade from the midday sun and a cool refreshing place to retreat, pray, and reflect on God's word. Rabbis often gathered their disciples under the shade of the fig tree to teach them the wisdom and revelation of God's word in the Scriptures. The rabbis had an expression for comparing the fig tree to being nourished with God's word in Scripture, "He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit."
Jesus offers the greatest gift possible - peace and friendship with God
It is very likely that Nathanael had been thinking about God's word while sitting "under his fig tree" and reflecting on God's promise to send a Messiah King who would free his people from sin and oppression and usher in God's kingdom of righteousness and peace for the whole world. Perhaps Nathanael dozed off for a midday nap and dreamt of God's kingdom like Jacob had dreamt when God gave him a vision of a great ladder which united earth with heaven (see Genesis 28:12-17). Through the gift of revelation Nathanael recognized that Jesus was truly the Messiah, the everlasting "Son of God and King of Israel" (John 1:49). The Lord Jesus offered Nathanael the greatest gift of all - the gift of friendship with God and the offer of free access to God's throne in heaven.
Jesus promises that we will dwell with the living God
What does Jesus mean when he says "you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man"? One of the most remarkable revelations recorded in the Bible is the dream of Jacob (Genesis 28:12-17). God had opened a door for Jacob that brought him and his people into a new relationship with the living God. In Jacob's dream God revealed his angelic host, showed him the very throne of heaven, and promised Jacob that he and his descendants would dwell with the living God.
Jesus, the Son of God, unites earth and heaven in himself
Jesus' response to Nathanael's new faith in accepting Jesus as the Messiah is the promise that Jesus himself will open the way for free access to the very throne of God in heaven. Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise to Jacob and his descendants - he is the way to the Father in heaven and the true "ladder (or stairway) which unites earth with heaven." In Jesus' incarnation, the divine Son of God taking on human flesh for our sake, we see the union of heaven and earth - God making his dwelling with us and bringing us into the heavenly reality of his kingdom through his Son, Jesus Christ.
Jesus gives us free access to God's presence
Jesus' death on the cross, where he defeated sin and won new life for us through his resurrection, opens the way for each of us to come into a new relationship with God as his adopted sons and daughters. The Lord Jesus opens the way for each one of us to "ascend to heaven" and to bring "heaven to earth" in the daily circumstances of our lives. God's kingdom is present in those who seek him and who strive to do his will. Through the gift of faith God opens a door for each one of us to the heavenly reality of his kingdom. Do you see with the "eyes of faith" what the Lord Jesus has done for us?
Heavenly Father, through your Son Jesus Christ, you have opened the way to heaven for each one of us. As you personally revealed yourself to your beloved patriarchs and apostles, so reveal yourself to me that I may recognize your presence with me and know the power of your kingdom at work in my life. May I always find joy and peace in your presence and never lose sight of your everlasting kingdom.