Daily Readings - Sun Nov 21 2021

¹³I watched, therefore, in the vision of the night, and behold, with the clouds of heaven, one like a son of man arrived, and he approached all the way to the ancient of days, and they presented him before him¹⁴And he gave him power, and honor, and the kingdom, and all peoples, tribes, and languages will serve him. His power is an eternal power, which will not be taken away, and his kingdom, one which will not be corrupted

Revelation

Chapter 1

⁵and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the leader over the kings of the earth, who has loved us and has washed us from our sins with his blood⁶and who has made us into a kingdom and into priests for God and for his Father. To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen⁷Behold, he arrives with the clouds, and every eye shall see him, even those who pierced him. And all the tribes of the earth shall lament for themselves over him. Even so. Amen⁸"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty

John

Chapter 18

³³Then Pilate entered the praetorium again, and he called Jesus and said to him, "You are the king of the Jews?³⁴Jesus responded, "Are you saying this of yourself, or have others spoken to you about me?³⁵Pilate responded: "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the high priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?³⁶Jesus responded: "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my ministers would certainly strive so that I would not be handed over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not now from here.³⁷And so Pilate said to him, "You are a king, then?" Jesus answered, "You are saying that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world: so that I may offer testimony to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter a profound vision of God’s eternal kingdom and the true nature of Jesus’ kingship. The first reading from Daniel describes a vision of the "son of man" coming on the clouds of heaven, receiving eternal power and dominion over all peoples. This vision points to the universal and everlasting reign of God’s kingdom, which transcends the fleeting powers of this world. The second reading from Revelation reaffirms this vision, declaring Jesus as the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, who has made us a kingdom of priests for God. This passage underscores Jesus’ role as the ruler of all creation and the eternal nature of His kingdom. In the Gospel, Jesus stands before Pilate, who questions Him about His claim to kingship. Jesus responds by clarifying that His kingdom is not of this world. While earthly kingdoms rely on power and coercion, Jesus’ kingdom is built on truth and love. He was born and came into the world to testify to the truth, and His voice is heard by all who belong to the truth. This exchange highlights the radical difference between the kingdoms of this world and the kingdom of God. Jesus’ reign is not about domination but about redemption, not about power but about love. These readings invite us to reflect on the nature of true kingship and our place within God’s kingdom. In a world often dominated by power struggles and fleeting ambitions, we are called to live as citizens of a heavenly kingdom, prioritizing truth, love, and service. Let us ask ourselves: Do we recognize Jesus as the true King of our lives? Do we seek to live according to the values of His kingdom—values of humility, compassion, and integrity? May we hear Jesus’ voice and follow Him faithfully, knowing that His kingdom, though not of this world, transforms the world from within.