Daily Readings - Tue Nov 27 2018
Revelation
14Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand.15And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, "Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe."16So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.17Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle.18And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, "Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe."19So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Luke
5And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said,6"As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."7And they asked him, "Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?"8And he said, "See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is at hand!' Do not go after them.9And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once."10Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.11There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the ultimate triumph of God and the call to remain vigilant in our faith. In the first reading from Revelation, we see a vision of the Son of Man sitting on a cloud, wielding a sharp sickle. This image symbolizes the divine judgment and the harvest of the earth, where the ripe crops are gathered and the clusters of grapes are pressed in the winepress of God’s wrath. The passage reminds us that God’s justice will prevail, and all things will be brought to their fulfillment in His time.
In the Gospel, Jesus warns His disciples about the destruction of the temple and the chaos that will precede the end times. He cautions them against being deceived by false messiahs and the turmoil of wars, earthquakes, and famines. Jesus is not predicting a specific timeline but urging His followers to remain steadfast and trusting in God’s plan. The temple, once a symbol of God’s presence, will be reduced to rubble, but Jesus’ words remind us that true security lies not in earthly structures but in our relationship with the living God.
These readings challenge us to live with integrity and faith in the midst of uncertainty. Like the disciples, we may face trials and confusion, but Jesus calls us to stay vigilant and rooted in His teachings. The harvest imagery in Revelation reminds us that our actions have consequences and that God will ultimately separate the wheat from the chaff. Let us strive to live in a way that reflects our commitment to Christ, trusting that even in the darkest times, God’s plan will unfold. May we remain faithful and hopeful, knowing that the final victory belongs to Him.