Daily Readings - Fri Nov 13 2020
2 John
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
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of fidelity, preparedness, and the ultimate judgment. In the Second Letter of John, we hear a heartfelt message urging believers to walk in truth and love, while warning against the dangers of deception. John expresses joy in seeing some of the community adhering to the truth but cautions against those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as having come in the flesh. This letter, written in a time of early Christian communities facing doctrinal challenges, emphasizes the importance of remaining steadfast in the teachings of Christ.
The Gospel from Luke presents a stark reminder of the suddenness of God’s judgment, drawing parallels with the days of Noah and Lot. Jesus warns that life will seem normal, much like in the days before the flood or the destruction of Sodom, until the moment of reckoning arrives. He urges His followers not to be caught off guard, not to look back like Lot’s wife, and to be prepared to prioritize spiritual life over material possessions. This passage, part of Jesus’ eschatological teachings, calls believers to live with vigilance and single-minded commitment to God’s will.
Together, these readings challenge us to examine our lives. They remind us that fidelity to God’s truth and love is not merely a doctrinal exercise but a way of life. In a world filled with distractions and temptations, we are called to remain steadfast, avoiding the pitfalls of complacency and false teachings. The moral lesson is clear: our ultimate judgment will depend on how we live each day, whether we remain faithful, and whether we are prepared to meet the Lord when He comes. Let us strive to live with integrity, love, and purpose, keeping our eyes fixed on the eternal truths of our faith.