Daily Readings - Mon Nov 19 2018

¹The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, in order to make known to his servants the things that must soon occur, and which he signified by sending his Angel to his servant John²he has offered testimony to the Word of God, and whatever he saw is the testimony of Jesus Christ³Blessed is he who reads or hears the words of this Prophecy, and who keeps the things that have been written in it. For the time is near⁴John, to the seven Churches, which are in Asia. Grace and peace to you, from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are in the sight of his throne

Chapter 2

¹"And to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus write: Thus says the One who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands²I know your works, and your hardship and patient endurance, and that you cannot stand those who are evil. And so, you have tested those who declare themselves to be Apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars³And you have patient endurance for the sake of my name, and you have not fallen away⁴But I have this against you: that you have relinquished your first charity⁵And so, call to mind the place from which you have fallen, and do penance, and do the first works. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent

Luke

Chapter 18

³⁵Now it happened that, as he was approaching Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting beside the way, begging³⁶And when he heard the multitude passing by, he asked what this was³⁷And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by³⁸And he cried out, saying, "Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me!³⁹And those who were passing by rebuked him, so that he would be silent. Yet truly, he cried out all the more, "Son of David, take pity on me!⁴⁰Then Jesus, standing still, ordered him to be brought to him. And when he had drawn near, he questioned him⁴¹saying, "What do you want, that I might do for you?" So he said, "Lord, that I may see.⁴²And Jesus said to him: "Look around. Your faith has saved you.⁴³And immediately he saw. And he followed him, magnifying God. And all the people, when they saw this, gave praise to God

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of faith, perseverance, and the call to remain steadfast in our relationship with God. In the first reading from Revelation, John addresses the Church of Ephesus, commending their endurance and discernment but also challenging them to reclaim the love and zeal they once had for God. This passage reminds us that even in the midst of trials and challenges, our faith must remain vibrant and rooted in love. The Gospel from Luke tells the story of a blind man who, despite being rebuked by the crowd, cries out to Jesus with persistence and faith. His plea for mercy is heard, and he is healed, both physically and spiritually, as he comes to see the truth of God’s love. These readings are connected by the theme of spiritual sight and the importance of maintaining a living, active faith. The Church in Ephesus is warned not to lose their first love, while the blind man in Luke gains both physical and spiritual sight through his unwavering trust in Jesus. Both passages call us to examine our own relationship with God—are we allowing our faith to grow lukewarm, or are we seeking to deepen our connection with Him? The blind man’s persistence in the face of opposition reminds us that true faith is not passive but bold and insistent, trusting in God’s power to transform our lives. In our daily lives, we can apply these lessons by reflecting on our own spiritual state. Are there areas where our love for God has grown cold? Do we, like the blind man, have the courage to cry out for healing and grace, even when others discourage us? Let us remember that faith is not about feeling but about trusting in God’s promises. As we navigate life’s challenges, may we remain steadfast in our devotion, seeking to renew our first love for God and to walk in the light of His truth. Through persistent prayer and a willingness to repent, we can regain our spiritual sight and follow Jesus with renewed passion and joy.