Daily Readings - Tue Nov 24 2020
Revelation
14And I saw, and behold, a white cloud. And upon the cloud was one sitting, resembling a son of man, having a crown of gold on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand15And another Angel went forth from the temple, crying out in a great voice to the one sitting upon the cloud: "Send out your sickle and reap! For the hour of reaping has arrived, because the harvest of the earth has ripened.16And the one who was sitting upon the cloud sent out his sickle to the earth, and the earth was reaped17And another Angel went forth from the temple that is in heaven; he also had a sharp sickle18And another Angel went forth from the altar, who held power over fire. And he cried out in a great voice to him who held the sharp sickle, saying: "Send out your sharp sickle, and harvest the clusters of grapes from the vineyard of the earth, because its grapes have matured.19And the Angel sent out his sharp sickle to the earth, and he harvested the vineyard of the earth, and he cast it into the great basin of the wrath of God
Luke
5And when some of them were saying, about the temple, that it was adorned with excellent stones and gifts, he said6"These things that you see, the days will arrive when there will not be left behind stone upon stone, which is not thrown down.7Then they questioned him, saying: "Teacher, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when these things will happen?8And he said: "Be cautious, lest you be seduced. For many will come in my name, saying: ‘For I am he,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ And so, do not choose to go after them9And when you will have heard of battles and seditions, do not be terrified. These things must happen first. But the end is not so soon.10Then he said to them: "People will rise up against people, and kingdom against kingdom11And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and pestilences, and famines, and terrors from heaven; and there will be great signs
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of judgment, perseverance, and trust in God's plan. In the first reading from Revelation, we encounter a vivid vision of the end times, where a figure on a cloud harvests the earth with a sickle, and angels execute God's judgment. This imagery, while dramatic, reminds us that God's justice will ultimately prevail, separating good from evil. The second reading from Luke presents Jesus warning his disciples about the destruction of the temple and the challenges of the end times. He cautions against false prophets and advises steadfastness amidst turmoil, emphasizing that these events, though unsettling, are not the end but part of a larger divine plan.
Both readings, though differing in style, share common themes of judgment and the necessity of faith. Revelation's apocalyptic imagery symbolizes God's ultimate triumph, while Luke's passage offers practical wisdom on navigating life's uncertainties. Together, they remind us to stay vigilant and rooted in our faith, trusting that God's plan unfolds even amidst chaos.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to remain steadfast and discerning. We are to trust in God's justice and plan, even when faced with challenges. The moral lesson here is one of trust and perseverance—keeping our focus on God amidst life's turmoil, ensuring our actions and hearts are aligned with His will.