Daily Readings - Fri Sep 26 2025

⁹After these things, I saw a great crowd, which no one could number, from all the nations and tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and in sight of the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands¹⁰And they cried out, with a great voice, saying: "Salvation is from our God, who sits upon the throne, and from the Lamb.¹¹And all the Angels were standing around the throne, with the elders and the four living creatures. And they fell upon their faces in view of the throne, and they worshipped God¹²saying: "Amen. Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving, honor and power and strength to our God, forever and ever. Amen.¹³And one of the elders responded and said to me: "These ones who are clothed in white robes, who are they? And where did they come from?¹⁴And I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me: "These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and have made them white by the blood of the Lamb¹⁵Therefore, they are before the throne of God, and they serve him, day and night, in his temple. And the One who sits upon the throne shall dwell over them¹⁶They shall not hunger, nor shall they thirst, anymore. Neither shall the sun beat down upon them, nor any heat¹⁷For the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will rule over them, and he will lead them to the fountains of the waters of life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

2 Corinthians

Chapter 4

⁷But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, so that what is sublime may be of the power of God, and not of us⁸In all things, we endure tribulation, yet we are not in anguish. We are constrained, yet we are not destitute⁹We suffer persecution, yet we have not been abandoned. We are thrown down, yet we do not perish¹⁰We ever carry around the mortification of Jesus in our bodies, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies¹¹For we who live are ever handed over unto death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh¹²Therefore, death is at work in us, and life is at work in you¹³But we have the same Spirit of faith. And just as it is written, "I believed, and for that reason I spoke," so we also believe, and for that reason, we also speak¹⁴For we know that the One who raised up Jesus will raise us up also with Jesus and will place us with you¹⁵Thus, all is for you, so that grace, abounding through many in thanksgiving, may abound to the glory of God

Gospel - Luke 9.23-26 or John 12.24-26

Luke

Chapter 9

²³Then he said to everyone: "If anyone is willing to come after me: let him deny himself, and take up his cross every day, and follow me²⁴For whoever will have saved his life, will lose it. Yet whoever will have lost his life for my sake, will save it²⁵For how does it benefit a man, if he were to gain the whole world, yet lose himself, or cause himself harm²⁶For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words: of him the Son of man will be ashamed, when he will have arrived in his majesty and that of his Father and of the holy Angels

John

Chapter 12

²⁴Amen, amen, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies²⁵it remains alone. But if it dies, it yields much fruit. Whoever loves his life, will lose it. And whoever hates his life in this world, preserves it unto eternal life²⁶If anyone serves me, let him follow me. And where I am, there too my minister shall be. If anyone has served me, my Father will honor him

Sermon

Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the journey of faith, perseverance, and the ultimate hope that lies before us. In Revelation, we glimpse a glorious vision of the redeemed, a diverse multitude from every nation, standing before the throne of God. They have emerged from great tribulation, their robes washed white by the blood of the Lamb. This passage reminds us that our struggles are not in vain; they prepare us for the eternal life where God will wipe away every tear and lead us to the waters of life. It is a vision of hope, assuring us that our present sufferings are not the end of the story. In 2 Corinthians, Paul speaks of the paradox of the Christian life. We are fragile, earthen vessels, yet we hold within us the sublime treasure of God’s power. Though we face tribulation, persecution, and suffering, these do not define us. Instead, they reveal the life of Jesus in us. Paul’s words encourage us to embrace our weaknesses, for it is in them that God’s strength shines through. We are called to trust in the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, knowing that our struggles contribute to the greater glory of God. In the Gospel, Jesus calls us to radical discipleship. Taking up our cross daily means surrendering our will to His, embracing sacrifice, and prioritizing eternal life over worldly comforts. Jesus warns us that to save our lives, we must lose them for His sake. This is not about physical death but about dying to self—letting go of pride, fear, and selfishness. True life is found in following Him, even when the path is difficult. As we navigate the challenges of our own lives, may we remember that our faith is not a shield from suffering but a source of strength to endure it. Let us walk with courage, knowing that our present struggles are but a prelude to the eternal joy that awaits us.