Daily Readings - Sat Nov 23 2024
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
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful imagery and profound teachings about the ultimate triumph of God and the nature of eternal life. The first reading from Revelation presents the two witnesses, symbolic figures who prophesy in the face of opposition and persecution. Despite their eventual martyrdom, they are resurrected in a dramatic display of God’s power, ascending to heaven while their enemies watch in awe. This passage reminds us that even in the darkest moments, God’s victory is assured, and His truth will ultimately prevail. The second reading from Luke’s Gospel finds Jesus engaging with the Sadducees, who question Him about the resurrection. Using a clever and complex scenario involving seven brothers and their widow, they seek to challenge the concept of an afterlife. Jesus responds by revealing that life after the resurrection is fundamentally different from life on earth. Marriage, as we know it, will no longer exist, for we will live in a state akin to the angels, free from death and united with God.
These readings are connected by their focus on the resurrection and God’s ultimate triumph over death. In Revelation, the two witnesses embody the enduring power of God’s Word, even in the face of opposition. In Luke, Jesus emphasizes that the resurrection is not merely a continuation of this life but a radical transformation. Together, they invite us to reflect on our understanding of eternal life and our place within God’s plan. Both readings challenge us to live with hope and trust in God’s promises, even when faced with suffering or uncertainty.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are reminded to persevere in faith, knowing that our struggles are temporary and that God’s victory is eternal. Let us strive to live in a way that reflects our ultimate citizenship in heaven, where death and suffering will no longer have power over us. May we embrace the hope of the resurrection, trusting that God will bring us through every trial into the fullness of life with Him.