Daily Readings - Tue Nov 15 2022
Revelation
1"And to the Angel of the Church of Sardis write: Thus says he who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works, that you have a name which is alive, but you are dead2Be vigilant, and confirm the things that remain, lest they soon die out. For I do not find your works to be full in the sight of my God3Therefore, keep in mind the way that you have received and heard, and then observe it and repent. But if you will not be vigilant, I will come to you like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you4But you have a few names in Sardis who have not defiled their garments. And these shall walk with me in white, because they are worthy5Whoever prevails, so shall he be clothed in white vestments. And I will not delete his name from the Book of Life. And I will confess his name in the presence of my Father and in the presence of his Angels6Whoever has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches14And to the Angel of the Church of Laodicea write: Thus says the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, who is the Beginning of the creation of God15I know your works: that you are neither cold, nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot16But because you are lukewarm and are neither cold nor hot, I will begin to vomit you out of my mouth17For you declare, ‘I am wealthy, and I have been enriched further, and I have need of nothing.’ And you do not know that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked18I urge you to buy from me gold, tested by fire, so that you may be enriched and may be clothed in white vestments, and so that the shame of your nakedness may disappear. And anoint your eyes with an eye salve, so that you may see19Those whom I love, I rebuke and chastise. Therefore, be zealous and do penance20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone will hear my voice and will open the door to me, I will enter to him, and I will dine with him, and he with me21Whoever prevails, I will grant to him to sit with me on my throne, just as I also have overcome and have sat down with my Father on his throne22Whoever has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.
Luke
1And having entered, he walked through Jericho2And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. And he was the leader of the tax collectors, and he was wealthy3And he sought to see Jesus, to see who he was. But he was unable to do so, because of the crowd, for he was small in stature4And running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree, so that he might see him. For he was to pass near there5And when he had arrived at the place, Jesus looked up and saw him, and he said to him: "Zacchaeus, hurry down. For today, I should lodge in your house.6And hurrying, he came down, and he received him joyfully7And when they all saw this, they murmured, saying that he had turned aside to a sinful man8But Zacchaeus, standing still, said to the Lord: "Behold, Lord, one half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone in any matter, I will repay him fourfold.9Jesus said to him: "Today, salvation has come to this house; because of this, he too is a son of Abraham10For the Son of man has come to seek and to save what had been lost.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about spiritual vigilance and transformation. The first reading from Revelation addresses the churches of Sardis and Laodicea, urging them to awaken from their spiritual complacency. Jesus warns against being lukewarm, emphasizing the need for repentance and a return to fervent faith. The Gospel from Luke presents the story of Zacchaeus, a tax collector whose encounter with Jesus leads to a profound change in his life, exemplifying repentance and the joy of salvation.
The context of these readings reveals the importance of spiritual alertness. Revelation's apocalyptic tone serves as a wake-up call to the early Christian communities, addressing their unique challenges. Luke's narrative, set in a bustling town, highlights Jesus's mission to seek the lost, showing how even the most unlikely individuals can experience transformation through faith.
Both readings intertwine the themes of vigilance and conversion. Revelation warns against complacency, while Luke illustrates the transformative power of encountering Christ. Zacchaeus's actions—repaying those he wronged and giving to the poor—demonstrate a genuine response to God's call, mirroring the call to repentance in Revelation.
In our daily lives, these readings remind us to stay spiritually alert and open to change. Just as Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus into his home and life, we are invited to embrace God's transformative power. The moral lesson here is the importance of avoiding spiritual lukewarmness and being receptive to conversion, allowing God's grace to lead us to a life of purpose and joy.
Let us reflect on our own spiritual state, striving to remain vigilant and open to God's call. May we, like Zacchaeus, experience the transformative power of Jesus, leading us to a life of faith, love, and service.