Daily Readings - Fri Nov 27 2020
Revelation
1And I saw an Angel, descending from heaven, holding in his hand the key of the abyss and a great chain2And he apprehended the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and he bound him for a thousand years3And he cast him into the abyss, and he closed and sealed it, so that he would no longer seduce the nations, until the thousand years are completed. And after these things, he must be released for a brief time4And I saw thrones. And they sat upon them. And judgment was given to them. And the souls of those beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the Word of God, and who did not adore the beast, nor his image, nor accept his character on their foreheads or on their hands: they lived and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years11And I saw a great white throne, and One sitting upon it, from whose sight earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing in view of the throne. And books were opened. And another Book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged by those things that had been written in the books, according to their works13And the sea gave up the dead who were in it. And death and Hell gave up their dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works14And Hell and death were cast into the pool of fire. This is the second death15And whoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the pool of fire
Luke
29And he told them a comparison: "Take notice of the fig tree and of all the trees30When presently they produce fruit from themselves, you know that summer is near31So you also, when you will have seen these things happen, know that the kingdom of God is near32Amen I say to you, this lineage shall not pass away, until all these things happen33Heaven and earth shall pass away. But my words shall not pass away
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the ultimate triumph of God’s plan and the hope that sustains us in the face of uncertainty. In the first reading from Revelation, we are given a vision of the end times: Satan is bound, the martyrs reign with Christ, and the final judgment unfolds. This apocalyptic imagery is not meant to frighten but to reassure us that God’s justice and mercy will prevail. The vision of the new heaven and the new earth reminds us that our ultimate destiny is not this broken world but a world transformed by God’s love. The Book of Life, in which the names of the faithful are written, is a powerful reminder that our lives are not judged by earthly standards but by our fidelity to God’s Word.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the fig tree to teach us about vigilance and trust in God’s timing. Just as the changing of the seasons is a natural and predictable process, so too are the signs of God’s kingdom unfolding in the world. Jesus assures us that while heaven and earth may pass away, His words will endure forever. This is a call to live with hope and confidence, knowing that God’s plan is being fulfilled, even when we cannot see it clearly.
These readings challenge us to live with our eyes fixed on eternity while being faithful in the present. They remind us that our struggles and uncertainties are not the final word. In a world that often seems dominated by darkness and division, we are called to trust in God’s promise of a new heaven and a new earth. Let us strive to live in such a way that our names are written in the Book of Life, and let us remain vigilant, knowing that the kingdom of God is near. May we find strength in the assurance that God’s Word endures forever, guiding us through every trial and leading us to eternal life.