Daily Readings - Sat Nov 19 2022
Revelation
4These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands, standing in the sight of the lord of the earth5And if anyone will want to harm them, fire shall go forth from their mouths, and it shall devour their enemies. And if anyone will want to wound them, so must he be slain6These have the power to close up the heavens, so that it may not rain during the days of their prophesying. And they have power over the waters, to convert them into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of affliction as often as they will7And when they will have finished their testimony, the beast that ascended from the abyss will make war against them, and will overcome them, and will kill them8And their bodies shall lie in the streets of the Great City, which is figuratively called ‘Sodom’ and ‘Egypt,’ the place where their Lord also was crucified9And those from the tribes and peoples and languages and nations shall be watching their bodies for three and one half days. And they shall not permit their bodies to be placed in tombs10And the inhabitants of the earth will rejoice over them, and they will celebrate, and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tortured those who were living upon the earth11And after three and one half days, the spirit of life from God entered into them. And they stood upright on their feet. And a great fear fell over those who saw them12And they heard a great voice from heaven, saying to them, "Ascend to here!" And they ascended into heaven on a cloud. And their enemies saw them
Luke
27Now some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, approached him. And they questioned him28saying: "Teacher, Moses wrote for us: If any man’s brother will have died, having a wife, and if he does not have any children, then his brother should take her as his wife, and he should raise up offspring for his brother29And so there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and he died without sons30And the next one married her, and he also died without a son31And the third married her, and similarly all seven, and none of them left behind any offspring, and they each died32Last of all, the woman also died33In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be? For certainly all seven had her as a wife.34And so, Jesus said to them: "The children of this age marry and are given in marriage35Yet truly, those who shall be held worthy of that age, and of the resurrection from the dead, will neither be married, nor take wives36For they can no longer die. For they are equal to the Angels, and they are children of God, since they are children of the resurrection37For in truth, the dead do rise again, as Moses also showed beside the bush, when he called the Lord: ‘The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.38And so he is not the God of the dead, but of the living. For all are alive to him.39Then some of the scribes, in response, said to him, "Teacher, you have spoken well.40And they no longer dared to question him about anything
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the ultimate triumph of God’s plan and the nature of eternal life. In the first reading from Revelation, we encounter the dramatic vision of the two witnesses who prophesy, suffer, and ultimately rise again in glory. These witnesses symbolize the enduring power of God’s truth, even in the face of persecution and death. Their resurrection and ascension into heaven remind us that no matter how dark the trials of this world may seem, God’s victory is assured. The second reading from Luke’s Gospel shifts our focus to a question about the resurrection, posed by the Sadducees. Jesus’ response emphasizes that life after death is not a continuation of earthly existence but a transformation into something entirely new. In heaven, relationships are not bound by the same rules as on earth, for we will live as children of God, equal to the angels, in a state where death no longer has power.
These readings are connected by their focus on the mystery of eternal life and the ultimate triumph of God’s plan. Revelation shows us the cosmic struggle between good and evil, while Luke’s Gospel offers a more intimate glimpse into the nature of resurrection. Together, they remind us that our lives are not limited to this world. The struggles, sorrows, and even the injustices we face here are temporary, for we are destined for a life that transcends death. Jesus’ words to the Sadducees invite us to trust in the promise of resurrection, while the vision in Revelation calls us to perseverance and hope, even when the forces of evil seem to prevail.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to live with our eyes fixed on eternity. They remind us that our ultimate identity is not defined by our earthly relationships or accomplishments but by our relationship with God. Like the two witnesses, we are called to bear witness to God’s truth, even when it is uncomfortable or costly. And like the resurrected life described by Jesus, we are invited to live in a way that reflects our belief in the eternal life that awaits us. May we, therefore, embrace the hope of resurrection and live each day with confidence in God’s plan, trusting that He will bring all things to their fulfillment in His time.