Daily Readings - Fri Nov 23 2018
Revelation
8Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, "Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land."9So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, "Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey."10And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter.11And I was told, "You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings."
Luke
45And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold,46saying to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer,' but you have made it a den of robbers."47And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him,48but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on our role as messengers of God’s word. The first reading from Revelation presents John being instructed by a voice from heaven to take a book from an angel. This book, sweet in the mouth but bitter in the stomach, symbolizes the dual nature of God’s message—bringing joy in its reception but also the burden of its proclamation. John’s experience reminds us that embracing God’s word is not without its challenges; it often requires us to confront discomfort and adversity.
The Gospel from Luke depicts Jesus cleansing the temple, driving out merchants and teaching the people. Despite the opposition from religious leaders, Jesus’ authority and message resonate deeply with the crowd. This passage highlights Jesus’ unwavering commitment to His mission, even in the face of resistance. Both readings share a common theme: the call to proclaim God’s truth, whether through prophetic visions or through teaching, in the midst of challenges.
In our daily lives, we are called to be bearers of God’s message, just like John and Jesus. This may mean standing up for justice, sharing our faith, or simply living according to God’s will. It is easy to feel discouraged when faced with resistance or discomfort, but these readings encourage us to persevere. Let us draw courage from Jesus’ example, trusting that our fidelity to His word will ultimately bring light and hope to those around us. May we embrace the sweetness of God’s truth and endure the bitterness with faith, knowing that our proclamation of His love can transform the world.