Daily Readings - Tue Nov 20 2018
Revelation
1"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: 'The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars."'I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.2Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.3Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.4Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.5The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.6He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'14"And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.15"'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.17For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.19Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.21The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
Luke
1He entered Jericho and was passing through.2And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.3And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature.4So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today."6So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.7And when they saw it, they all grumbled, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner."8And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold."9And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
Sermon
The readings today offer a powerful call to spiritual vigilance and conversion. In the first reading from Revelation, Jesus addresses the Churches of Sardis and Laodicea, challenging them to examine their spiritual state. The Church of Sardis is warned that, though it appears alive, it is spiritually dead and must repent and hold fast to what remains. The Church of Laodicea is rebuked for its lukewarmness, its false sense of self-sufficiency, and its spiritual blindness. Jesus urges them to seek true wealth in gold refined by fire and to open their hearts to his presence. These messages remind us that complacency and mediocrity have no place in the Christian life.
In the Gospel, we encounter Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector who, despite his small stature and social ostracism, seeks Jesus with determination. Climbing a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of him, Zacchaeus experiences a profound encounter. Jesus not only sees him but also chooses to stay in his home, a gesture of divine mercy and acceptance. This encounter transforms Zacchaeus, leading him to repentance and a commitment to justice and generosity. His story shows that true conversion is not just a change of heart but also a change in actions, as he resolves to give half his goods to the poor and make restitution for any wrongdoing.
These readings are deeply connected. Both emphasize the need for spiritual awakening and the transformative power of encountering Christ. The Churches in Revelation are called to move beyond superficial faith, while Zacchaeus exemplifies what it means to respond to God’s grace with humility, repentance, and concrete actions. For us today, the message is clear: we must not settle for a lukewarm or complacent faith. Instead, we are invited to open our hearts to Jesus, to seek him with determination, and to allow his presence to transform our lives. Let us ask ourselves: Are we spiritually vigilant? Are we living with the kind of faith that bears fruit in love, justice, and generosity? May we, like Zacchaeus, welcome Jesus into our lives and allow his mercy to lead us to true conversion and a deeper relationship with him.