Daily Readings - Sat Nov 26 2022
Revelation
1And he showed me the river of the water of life, shining like crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb2In the midst of its main street, and on both sides of the river, was the Tree of Life, bearing twelve fruits, offering one fruit for each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the health of the nations3And every curse shall be no more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants shall serve him4And they shall see his face. And his name shall be on their foreheads5And night shall be no more. And they will not need the light of a lamp, nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illuminate them. And they shall reign forever and ever6And he said to me: "These words are entirely faithful and true." And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his Angel to reveal to his servant what must occur soon7"For behold, I am approaching quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.
Luke
34But be attentive to yourselves, lest perhaps your hearts may be weighed down by self-indulgence and inebriation and the cares of this life. And then that day may overwhelm you suddenly35For like a snare it will overwhelm all those who sit upon the face of the entire earth36And so, be vigilant, praying at all times, so that you may be held worthy to escape from all these things, which are in the future, and to stand before the Son of man.
Sermon
The first reading from Revelation paints a vivid picture of eternal life, where the river of life flows from God’s throne, and the Tree of Life bears fruit for the healing of the nations. This vision is a glimpse of the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise—a world free from suffering and death, where God’s presence is unmediated, and His people live in perpetual light and joy. The reading reminds us that this is not just a distant hope but a reality that will come to pass soon, as the Lord declares, “Behold, I am coming quickly.”
In the Gospel, Jesus warns us to stay vigilant and not let our hearts become weighed down by the distractions and cares of this world. He urges us to pray always so that we may be found worthy to stand before the Son of Man when He comes. This passage is part of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse, where He prepares His disciples for His eventual return and the challenges that will precede it. The key here is balance: while we must engage with the world, we must not let it consume us. Our ultimate allegiance is to God, and our hearts must remain focused on Him.
Both readings call us to live with hope and preparedness. Revelation shows us the destination—eternal life in God’s presence—while Luke’s Gospel reminds us how to get there: by staying vigilant, prayerful, and detached from the allurements of the world. In our daily lives, this means prioritizing our relationship with God, seeking His will in all things, and trusting in His promise to bring us to the fullness of life. Let us strive to live in such a way that we are always ready to meet the Lord, whether He comes to us in death or at the end of time.