Daily Readings - Tue Nov 24 2020
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 themes of judgment, perseverance, and trust in God's plan. In the first reading from Revelation, we encounter a vivid vision of the end times, where a figure on a cloud harvests the earth with a sickle, and angels execute God's judgment. This imagery, while dramatic, reminds us that God's justice will ultimately prevail, separating good from evil. The second reading from Luke presents Jesus warning his disciples about the destruction of the temple and the challenges of the end times. He cautions against false prophets and advises steadfastness amidst turmoil, emphasizing that these events, though unsettling, are not the end but part of a larger divine plan.
Both readings, though differing in style, share common themes of judgment and the necessity of faith. Revelation's apocalyptic imagery symbolizes God's ultimate triumph, while Luke's passage offers practical wisdom on navigating life's uncertainties. Together, they remind us to stay vigilant and rooted in our faith, trusting that God's plan unfolds even amidst chaos.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to remain steadfast and discerning. We are to trust in God's justice and plan, even when faced with challenges. The moral lesson here is one of trust and perseverance—keeping our focus on God amidst life's turmoil, ensuring our actions and hearts are aligned with His will.