Daily Readings - Mon Sep 26 2022

⁹After these things, I saw a great crowd, which no one could number, from all the nations and tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and in sight of the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands¹⁰And they cried out, with a great voice, saying: "Salvation is from our God, who sits upon the throne, and from the Lamb.¹¹And all the Angels were standing around the throne, with the elders and the four living creatures. And they fell upon their faces in view of the throne, and they worshipped God¹²saying: "Amen. Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving, honor and power and strength to our God, forever and ever. Amen.¹³And one of the elders responded and said to me: "These ones who are clothed in white robes, who are they? And where did they come from?¹⁴And I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me: "These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and have made them white by the blood of the Lamb¹⁵Therefore, they are before the throne of God, and they serve him, day and night, in his temple. And the One who sits upon the throne shall dwell over them¹⁶They shall not hunger, nor shall they thirst, anymore. Neither shall the sun beat down upon them, nor any heat¹⁷For the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will rule over them, and he will lead them to the fountains of the waters of life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

2 Corinthians

Chapter 4

⁷But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, so that what is sublime may be of the power of God, and not of us⁸In all things, we endure tribulation, yet we are not in anguish. We are constrained, yet we are not destitute⁹We suffer persecution, yet we have not been abandoned. We are thrown down, yet we do not perish¹⁰We ever carry around the mortification of Jesus in our bodies, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies¹¹For we who live are ever handed over unto death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh¹²Therefore, death is at work in us, and life is at work in you¹³But we have the same Spirit of faith. And just as it is written, "I believed, and for that reason I spoke," so we also believe, and for that reason, we also speak¹⁴For we know that the One who raised up Jesus will raise us up also with Jesus and will place us with you¹⁵Thus, all is for you, so that grace, abounding through many in thanksgiving, may abound to the glory of God

Gospel - Luke 9.23-26 or John 12.24-26

Luke

Chapter 9

²³Then he said to everyone: "If anyone is willing to come after me: let him deny himself, and take up his cross every day, and follow me²⁴For whoever will have saved his life, will lose it. Yet whoever will have lost his life for my sake, will save it²⁵For how does it benefit a man, if he were to gain the whole world, yet lose himself, or cause himself harm²⁶For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words: of him the Son of man will be ashamed, when he will have arrived in his majesty and that of his Father and of the holy Angels

John

Chapter 12

²⁴Amen, amen, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies²⁵it remains alone. But if it dies, it yields much fruit. Whoever loves his life, will lose it. And whoever hates his life in this world, preserves it unto eternal life²⁶If anyone serves me, let him follow me. And where I am, there too my minister shall be. If anyone has served me, my Father will honor him

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the journey of faith, marked by both tribulation and triumph. The first reading from Revelation presents a vision of a multitude from every nation, clothed in white, standing before God’s throne. These are those who have endured great trials and emerged victorious, their robes washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. This imagery reminds us that our earthly struggles are not in vain, for they lead us to eternal glory. The second reading from Corinthians emphasizes that we are but earthen vessels holding a divine treasure. Paul acknowledges the hardships of ministry and life, yet he finds strength in the power of God. He carries the mortification of Jesus in his body, so that the life of Jesus may shine through. This passage encourages us to embrace our weaknesses as opportunities for God’s grace to shine. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches the radical demands of discipleship: denying oneself, taking up the cross daily, and following him. He warns that saving one’s life leads to loss, while losing one’s life for his sake leads to true salvation. This is not about physical death but about dying to self and living for Christ. These readings are deeply connected. Revelation gives us the ultimate vision of salvation, where the faithful stand before God’s throne, free from suffering. Corinthians shows us how we get there—through enduring trials and trusting in God’s power. The Gospel tells us how to live in the present: by embracing the cross and following Jesus. Together, they remind us that our faith journey is not one of comfort but of sacrifice and trust. The cross is not just a symbol of salvation; it is a way of life. In a world that often values ease and comfort, these readings challenge us to re-examine our priorities. Are we willing to let go of our own desires and ambitions for the sake of following Christ? Are we prepared to endure trials, knowing that they are part of the journey toward eternal life? As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us reflect on where we are being called to deny ourselves and take up the cross. Perhaps it is in a difficult relationship, a challenging situation at work, or a personal struggle with sin. Whatever the cross may be, let us remember that it is not an end in itself but a means to deeper union with Christ. The readings assure us that our struggles are not meaningless. They are opportunities for God’s power to be revealed in us, and they prepare us for the eternal life we will share with him. May we embrace the cross with faith and hope, trusting that what seems like loss in this world will be transformed into gain in the next.