Daily Readings - Fri Nov 23 2018
Revelation
8And again, I heard a voice from heaven speaking with me and saying: "Go and receive the open book from the hand of the Angel who stands upon the sea and upon the land.9And I went to the Angel, saying to him that he should give the book to me. And he said to me: "Receive the book and consume it. And it shall cause bitterness in your stomach, but in your mouth it shall be sweet like honey.10And I received the book from the hand of the Angel, and I consumed it. And it was sweet like honey in my mouth. And when I had consumed it, my stomach was made bitter11And he said to me, "It is necessary for you to prophesy again about many nations and peoples and languages and kings.
Luke
45And entering into the temple, he began to cast out those who sold in it, and those who bought46saying to them: "It is written: ‘My house is a house of prayer.’ But you have made it into a den of robbers.47And he was teaching in the temple daily. And the leaders of the priests, and the scribes, and the leaders of the people were seeking to destroy him48But they could not find what to do to him. For all the people were listening to him attentively
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on our role as messengers of God’s word. The first reading from Revelation presents John being instructed by a voice from heaven to take a book from an angel. This book, sweet in the mouth but bitter in the stomach, symbolizes the dual nature of God’s message—bringing joy in its reception but also the burden of its proclamation. John’s experience reminds us that embracing God’s word is not without its challenges; it often requires us to confront discomfort and adversity.
The Gospel from Luke depicts Jesus cleansing the temple, driving out merchants and teaching the people. Despite the opposition from religious leaders, Jesus’ authority and message resonate deeply with the crowd. This passage highlights Jesus’ unwavering commitment to His mission, even in the face of resistance. Both readings share a common theme: the call to proclaim God’s truth, whether through prophetic visions or through teaching, in the midst of challenges.
In our daily lives, we are called to be bearers of God’s message, just like John and Jesus. This may mean standing up for justice, sharing our faith, or simply living according to God’s will. It is easy to feel discouraged when faced with resistance or discomfort, but these readings encourage us to persevere. Let us draw courage from Jesus’ example, trusting that our fidelity to His word will ultimately bring light and hope to those around us. May we embrace the sweetness of God’s truth and endure the bitterness with faith, knowing that our proclamation of His love can transform the world.