Daily Readings - Fri Nov 16 2018

⁴I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father.⁵And now I ask you, dear lady--not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning--that we love one another.⁶And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.⁷For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.⁸Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.⁹Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

Luke

Chapter 17

²⁶Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.²⁷They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.²⁸Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot--they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building,²⁹but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all--³⁰so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.³¹On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back.³²Remember Lot's wife.³³Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.³⁴I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left.³⁵There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left."³⁶See Footnote³⁷And they said to him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather."

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are reminded of the importance of fidelity to our faith and preparedness for God’s judgment. The second reading from 2 John emphasizes walking in truth and love, cautioning against false teachings that deny Jesus as the Messiah. It underscores the commandment to love one another, which is rooted in following God’s teachings. The Gospel from Luke uses the examples of Noah and Lot to illustrate the suddenness of God’s judgment, urging us not to be caught off guard and to avoid the temptation to look back, as Lot’s wife did. Both readings are set within contexts that highlight the importance of steadfastness. John’s letter addresses a community facing deception, encouraging them to remain true to the teachings of Christ. Luke’s passage, part of Jesus’ eschatological teachings, reminds us to be vigilant and prepared for the unexpected return of the Son of Man. Together, they call us to live with integrity and moral consistency, adhering to God’s commandments and avoiding complacency. In our daily lives, this means embracing a life of faith and moral living. We are to stay true to our beliefs, avoiding the distractions and false allurements of the world. The moral lesson here is clear: live each day with the mindfulness that it could be our last, staying vigilant and faithful. Let us strive to remain steadfast in our commitment to God, ensuring that our actions and beliefs align with His teachings, ever prepared to meet Him when He comes.