Daily Readings - Fri Nov 29 2024
Revelation
1And I saw an Angel, descending from heaven, holding in his hand the key of the abyss and a great chain2And he apprehended the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and he bound him for a thousand years3And he cast him into the abyss, and he closed and sealed it, so that he would no longer seduce the nations, until the thousand years are completed. And after these things, he must be released for a brief time4And I saw thrones. And they sat upon them. And judgment was given to them. And the souls of those beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the Word of God, and who did not adore the beast, nor his image, nor accept his character on their foreheads or on their hands: they lived and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years11And I saw a great white throne, and One sitting upon it, from whose sight earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing in view of the throne. And books were opened. And another Book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged by those things that had been written in the books, according to their works13And the sea gave up the dead who were in it. And death and Hell gave up their dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works14And Hell and death were cast into the pool of fire. This is the second death15And whoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the pool of fire
Luke
29And he told them a comparison: "Take notice of the fig tree and of all the trees30When presently they produce fruit from themselves, you know that summer is near31So you also, when you will have seen these things happen, know that the kingdom of God is near32Amen I say to you, this lineage shall not pass away, until all these things happen33Heaven and earth shall pass away. But my words shall not pass away
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the ultimate triumph of God’s plan and the call to live with hope and vigilance. In the first reading from Revelation, we are given a vision of the end times: Satan is bound for a thousand years, the martyrs reign with Christ, and ultimately, God creates a new heaven and a new earth. This passage is not meant to be a literal description of the future but a symbolic assurance that God’s justice and love will prevail. It reminds us that despite the struggles and evils of this world, God’s final victory is certain, and all creation will be transformed.
The Gospel reading from Luke complements this vision by emphasizing the importance of being attentive to the signs of God’s kingdom. Jesus uses the example of the fig tree to teach that just as we can recognize the approach of summer by the changes in nature, so too can we discern the nearness of God’s kingdom by the events unfolding around us. This is not a call to fear or anxiety but to trust in God’s Word and to live with hope. Jesus assures us that while heaven and earth will pass away, his words will endure forever.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to live with faith and perseverance. We are called to trust in God’s plan, even when the world around us seems uncertain or chaotic. Like the martyrs in Revelation, we are invited to remain faithful, even in the face of challenges, knowing that our ultimate destiny is to share in the eternal life of the new heaven and the new earth. Let us strive to live each day with hope, keeping our eyes fixed on the promise of God’s kingdom, and trusting that his Word will guide us through all things.