Daily Readings - Wed Nov 21 2018
Revelation
1After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this."2At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.3And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.4Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.5From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God,6and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:7the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.8And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!"9And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever,10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,11"Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."
Luke
11As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.12He said therefore, "A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.13Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, 'Engage in business until I come.'14But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us.'15When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business.16The first came before him, saying, 'Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.'17And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.'18And the second came, saying, 'Lord, your mina has made five minas.'19And he said to him, 'And you are to be over five cities.'20Then another came, saying, 'Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief;21for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.'22He said to him, 'I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?23Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?'24And he said to those who stood by, 'Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.'25And they said to him, 'Lord, he has ten minas!'26'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.27But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.'"28And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of worship, accountability, and the kingdom of God. The first reading from Revelation offers a glimpse into the heavenly throne room, where God is worshiped by the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures. This vision emphasizes God’s majesty and the eternal adoration that surrounds him. The Gospel, from Luke, presents a parable about a nobleman who entrusts his servants with resources before departing to claim his kingdom. Upon his return, he holds them accountable for how they used what was given to them. Those who were faithful and fruitful are rewarded, while the one who buried his gift out of fear is reproached. The parable concludes with a stern warning to those who reject the nobleman’s rule, foreshadowing the consequences of rejecting God’s sovereignty.
The readings are connected by the theme of accountability and the call to live in a way that reflects our ultimate allegiance to God. Revelation reminds us that our worship is not just an earthly act but a foretaste of the eternal praise that surrounds God’s throne. The parable from Luke challenges us to consider how we use the gifts, talents, and opportunities God has entrusted to us. Both readings encourage us to live with purpose and responsibility, knowing that our actions have eternal consequences.
As we reflect on these passages, let us ask ourselves: How am I using the resources God has given me? Am I living in a way that reflects my commitment to God’s kingdom? Let us strive to be faithful stewards, not out of fear, but out of love and gratitude for the One who has entrusted us with so much. May we worship God with our lives, using our gifts to build up his kingdom, and may we be prepared to give an account of our stewardship when we stand before him.