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It Starts Inside

Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle

Reading 1 Revelation 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 Psalm 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18

R. (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.

Alleluia John 1:49b

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Rabbi, you are the Son of God;
you are the King of Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel John 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."

- - -

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

August 25, 2026 // Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time // Optional Memorial of Saint Louis of France // Optional Memorial of Saint Joseph Calasanz, priest

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Matthew 23:23-26

Reflect on the Word //

“You always seem so put together . . . so composed.” I smiled gratefully as the bank teller paid me this genuine compliment in her accented English. She often assisted me when I dropped by to deposit my paychecks but I had no clue I had made an impression on her. As I left the bank, my thoughts dwelt on how even our way of entering a room can effectively evangelize.

While I certainly have a long way to go in truly letting peace and purpose inform all that I do, I valued this small encouragement. Too often, perfectionism makes me overthink whether or not my conversations and interactions successfully manifest the composure I desire. That’s why praying with today’s Gospel becomes a little uncomfortable.

Although I prefer to distance myself from Christ’s reprimand to the Scribes and Pharisees, its theme hits home. I might not stand in the disconnect between paying tithes and practicing virtue, but in prayer, Christ addresses the same point to me: my exterior presentation must align with my interior. Being put together is more than appearances, more than simply saying the right thing. It starts with our spiritual lives, and what is noticeable when we walk into a room flows from that. It requires knowing our purpose, unlike the Scribes and Pharisees who miss the point of their tithes and rituals. They have mastered the simple things, the payments of “mint and dill and cumin” that more easily roll out of their material resources (Matthew 23:23). Yet, growing in “judgment and mercy and fidelity” (Matthew 23:23) is a more intricate matter, requiring deep prayer that purifies our souls.

Today, sister, I invite you to pray with some “uncomfy” questions from today’s Gospel. What dwells within you and me? Christ convicts the Scribes and Pharisees of being “full of plunder and self-indulgence” (Matthew 23:25). What is my plunder and what is my self-indulgence? Let’s invite Christ to cleanse what should not be stored in our hearts and to then increase our discernment, compassion, faithfulness, and all the other virtues that root us in His purpose.

Relate to the Lord // Do you struggle with perfectionism? Ask Jesus to show you the little ways you please Him simply by being who you are.

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About Leila Joy Castillo

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Leila Joy Castillo is passionate about bringing Christ to others through the written word in her freelance work, particularly as a media contractor for Ascension and as a homeschool literature tutor. She studied at Ave Maria University and is a lifelong Floridian, so mountains especially delight her heart. Leila could spend far too long chatting about Catholic travel destinations, the saints, life with her three wonderful siblings, and almost anything Jane Austen. You can follow her creativity via Instagram @leila_joyinthejourney.