Daily Readings - Tue Nov 20 2018
Revelation
1"And to the Angel of the Church of Sardis write: Thus says he who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works, that you have a name which is alive, but you are dead2Be vigilant, and confirm the things that remain, lest they soon die out. For I do not find your works to be full in the sight of my God3Therefore, keep in mind the way that you have received and heard, and then observe it and repent. But if you will not be vigilant, I will come to you like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you4But you have a few names in Sardis who have not defiled their garments. And these shall walk with me in white, because they are worthy5Whoever prevails, so shall he be clothed in white vestments. And I will not delete his name from the Book of Life. And I will confess his name in the presence of my Father and in the presence of his Angels6Whoever has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches14And to the Angel of the Church of Laodicea write: Thus says the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, who is the Beginning of the creation of God15I know your works: that you are neither cold, nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot16But because you are lukewarm and are neither cold nor hot, I will begin to vomit you out of my mouth17For you declare, ‘I am wealthy, and I have been enriched further, and I have need of nothing.’ And you do not know that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked18I urge you to buy from me gold, tested by fire, so that you may be enriched and may be clothed in white vestments, and so that the shame of your nakedness may disappear. And anoint your eyes with an eye salve, so that you may see19Those whom I love, I rebuke and chastise. Therefore, be zealous and do penance20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone will hear my voice and will open the door to me, I will enter to him, and I will dine with him, and he with me21Whoever prevails, I will grant to him to sit with me on my throne, just as I also have overcome and have sat down with my Father on his throne22Whoever has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.
Luke
1And having entered, he walked through Jericho2And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. And he was the leader of the tax collectors, and he was wealthy3And he sought to see Jesus, to see who he was. But he was unable to do so, because of the crowd, for he was small in stature4And running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree, so that he might see him. For he was to pass near there5And when he had arrived at the place, Jesus looked up and saw him, and he said to him: "Zacchaeus, hurry down. For today, I should lodge in your house.6And hurrying, he came down, and he received him joyfully7And when they all saw this, they murmured, saying that he had turned aside to a sinful man8But Zacchaeus, standing still, said to the Lord: "Behold, Lord, one half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone in any matter, I will repay him fourfold.9Jesus said to him: "Today, salvation has come to this house; because of this, he too is a son of Abraham10For the Son of man has come to seek and to save what had been lost.
Sermon
The readings today offer a powerful call to spiritual vigilance and conversion. In the first reading from Revelation, Jesus addresses the Churches of Sardis and Laodicea, challenging them to examine their spiritual state. The Church of Sardis is warned that, though it appears alive, it is spiritually dead and must repent and hold fast to what remains. The Church of Laodicea is rebuked for its lukewarmness, its false sense of self-sufficiency, and its spiritual blindness. Jesus urges them to seek true wealth in gold refined by fire and to open their hearts to his presence. These messages remind us that complacency and mediocrity have no place in the Christian life.
In the Gospel, we encounter Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector who, despite his small stature and social ostracism, seeks Jesus with determination. Climbing a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of him, Zacchaeus experiences a profound encounter. Jesus not only sees him but also chooses to stay in his home, a gesture of divine mercy and acceptance. This encounter transforms Zacchaeus, leading him to repentance and a commitment to justice and generosity. His story shows that true conversion is not just a change of heart but also a change in actions, as he resolves to give half his goods to the poor and make restitution for any wrongdoing.
These readings are deeply connected. Both emphasize the need for spiritual awakening and the transformative power of encountering Christ. The Churches in Revelation are called to move beyond superficial faith, while Zacchaeus exemplifies what it means to respond to God’s grace with humility, repentance, and concrete actions. For us today, the message is clear: we must not settle for a lukewarm or complacent faith. Instead, we are invited to open our hearts to Jesus, to seek him with determination, and to allow his presence to transform our lives. Let us ask ourselves: Are we spiritually vigilant? Are we living with the kind of faith that bears fruit in love, justice, and generosity? May we, like Zacchaeus, welcome Jesus into our lives and allow his mercy to lead us to true conversion and a deeper relationship with him.