Daily Readings - Fri Nov 11 2022

⁴I was very glad because I discovered some of your sons walking in the truth, just as we received the commandment from the Father⁵And now I petition you, Lady, not as if writing a new commandment to you, but instead that commandment which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another⁶And this is love: that we walk according to his commandments. For this is the commandment that you have heard in the same way from the beginning, and in which you should walk⁷For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess that Jesus Christ has arrived in the flesh. Such a one as this is a deceiver and an antichrist⁸Be cautious for yourselves, lest you lose what you have accomplished, and so that, instead, you may receive a full reward⁹Everyone who withdraws and does not remain in the doctrine of Christ, does not have God. Whoever remains in the doctrine, such a one as this has both the Father and the Son

Luke

Chapter 17

²⁶And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of man²⁷They were eating and drinking; they were taking wives and being given in marriage, even until the day that Noah entered the ark. And the flood came and destroyed them all²⁸It shall be similar to what happened in the days of Lot. They were eating and drinking; they were buying and selling; they were planting and building²⁹Then, on the day that Lot departed from Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and it destroyed them all³⁰According to these things, so shall it be in the day when the Son of man will be revealed³¹In that hour, whoever will be on the rooftop, with his goods in the house, let him not descend to take them. And whoever will be in the field, similarly, let him not turn back³²Remember Lot’s wife³³Whoever has sought to save his life, will lose it; and whoever has lost it, will bring it back to life³⁴I say to you, in that night, there will be two in one bed. One will be taken up, and the other will be left behind³⁵Two will be at the grindstone together. One will be taken up, and the other will be left behind. Two will be in the field. One will be taken up, and the other will be left behind.³⁶Responding, they said to him, "Where, Lord?³⁷And he said to them, "Wherever the body will be, in that place also, the eagles shall be gathered together.

Sermon

The readings today from 2 John and Luke invite us to reflect on the themes of faithfulness, love, and preparedness. In 2 John, the apostle expresses joy in seeing some of the community walking in truth and obedience to the commandment of love. He emphasizes that this is not a new instruction but one rooted in the teachings of Christ. John warns against those who deceive by denying Jesus as the Messiah, urging the community to remain steadfast in their faith to maintain a deep connection with both the Father and the Son. In Luke's Gospel, Jesus uses the examples of Noah and Lot to illustrate the unexpected nature of God's judgment. He cautions against being consumed by worldly distractions and material attachments, using Lot's wife as a symbol of the consequences of looking back. Jesus emphasizes that when the Son of Man is revealed, there will be a separation, and one's preparedness will determine their fate. The eagles gathering where the body is serve as a metaphor for the inevitability of judgment. Both readings connect through their emphasis on vigilance and adherence to God's word. John's letter and Jesus' teachings remind us to stay true to our faith and be prepared for life's uncertainties. In our daily lives, this means cultivating a deep love for one another and remaining faithful despite the world's distractions. The moral lesson is clear: perseverance in faith and love is essential. As we navigate life, let us stay vigilant, keeping our hearts and minds focused on Christ, ensuring we are prepared for whatever comes our way.