Daily Readings - Thu Nov 22 2018
Revelation
1And in the right hand of the One sitting upon the throne, I saw a book, written inside and out, sealed with seven seals2And I saw a strong Angel, proclaiming with a great voice, "Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?3And no one was able, neither in heaven, nor on earth, nor under the earth, to open the book, nor to gaze upon it4And I wept greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book, nor to see it5And one of the elders said to me: "Weep not. Behold, the lion from the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed to open the book and to break its seven seals.6And I saw, and behold, in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb was standing, as if it were slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God, sent forth to all the earth7And he approached and received the book from the right hand of the One sitting upon the throne8And when he had opened the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having stringed instruments, as well as golden bowls full of fragrances, which are the prayers of the saints9And they were singing a new canticle, saying: "O Lord, you are worthy to receive the book and to open its seals, because you were slain and have redeemed us for God, by your blood, from every tribe and language and people and nation10And you have made us into a kingdom and into priests for our God, and we shall reign over the earth.
Luke
41And when he drew near, seeing the city, he wept over it, saying42"If only you had known, indeed even in this your day, which things are for your peace. But now they are hidden from your eyes43For the days will overtake you. And your enemies will encircle you with a valley. And they will surround you and hem you in on every side44And they will knock you down to the ground, with your sons who are in you. And they will not leave stone upon stone within you, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter profound themes of revelation, judgment, and redemption. The first reading from Revelation 5:1-10 presents a vision of Jesus as the Lamb, worthy to open the sealed book. This book symbolizes God's plan and judgment, and only Jesus, through His sacrifice, can unlock it. The scene is one of worship, with creatures and elders praising Jesus for His redemption of all people. The Gospel from Luke 19:41-44 shows Jesus weeping over Jerusalem, lamenting the city's failure to recognize God's visitation, which leads to prophesied destruction. This highlights the sorrow of unmet spiritual awareness.
Both readings connect through the theme of recognizing God's presence and plan. Revelation reveals Jesus as the key to understanding God's judgment and redemption, while Luke illustrates the consequences of spiritual blindness. Together, they urge us to be attentive to God's presence in our lives. Just as Jerusalem missed its moment, we must not overlook ours. Jesus' sacrifice, as the Lamb, is central to this understanding, offering redemption and urging us to respond to God's visitation.
The moral lesson here is clear: spiritual awareness is crucial. We must recognize and respond to God's presence to avoid spiritual downfall. Let us reflect on our own lives, ensuring we are attentive to God's visitation, embracing His plan, and living in the light of His redemption.