Daily Readings - Tue Nov 19 2024
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
The readings today offer a powerful reminder of the call to spiritual vigilance and the transformative power of repentance. In the first reading from Revelation, Jesus speaks to the Churches of Sardis and Laodicea, urging them to awaken from their spiritual complacency. To Sardis, he warns that having a reputation for being alive does not necessarily mean they are truly living in faith. To Laodicea, he condemns their lukewarmness, calling them to repentance and a deeper relationship with him. These words are not just for the early Christian communities but are a timeless call to us today to examine our own spiritual state and to strive for a vibrant, living faith.
The Gospel from Luke provides a beautiful example of what this transformative repentance looks like. Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector, is moved by Jesus’ presence to make radical changes in his life. Though shunned by society for his role as a tax collector, Zacchaeus’ desire to see Jesus leads him to climb a tree, and ultimately, to welcome Jesus into his home. Jesus’ presence sparks Zacchaeus’ repentance, and he commits to giving half his goods to the poor and repaying fourfold anyone he has cheated. This story shows that true repentance is not just feeling sorry for sin but actively turning away from sin and living in a way that reflects God’s justice and mercy.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives. Are we spiritually lukewarm, going through the motions of faith without a deep connection to Christ? Or are we like Zacchaeus, willing to take bold steps to encounter Jesus and allow him to transform our lives? Jesus stands at the door of our hearts and knocks, inviting us to open ourselves to his presence. Let us respond by seeking him with humility, repenting of our sins, and living in a way that reflects the love and justice of God. May we, like Zacchaeus, experience the joy of salvation and share it with others.