Daily Readings - Sun Nov 21 2021
Daniel
13I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.14And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
Revelation
5and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood6and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.7Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.8"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
John
33So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"34Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?"35Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?"36Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world."37Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world--to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter a profound vision of God’s eternal kingdom and the true nature of Jesus’ kingship. The first reading from Daniel describes a vision of the "son of man" coming on the clouds of heaven, receiving eternal power and dominion over all peoples. This vision points to the universal and everlasting reign of God’s kingdom, which transcends the fleeting powers of this world. The second reading from Revelation reaffirms this vision, declaring Jesus as the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, who has made us a kingdom of priests for God. This passage underscores Jesus’ role as the ruler of all creation and the eternal nature of His kingdom.
In the Gospel, Jesus stands before Pilate, who questions Him about His claim to kingship. Jesus responds by clarifying that His kingdom is not of this world. While earthly kingdoms rely on power and coercion, Jesus’ kingdom is built on truth and love. He was born and came into the world to testify to the truth, and His voice is heard by all who belong to the truth. This exchange highlights the radical difference between the kingdoms of this world and the kingdom of God. Jesus’ reign is not about domination but about redemption, not about power but about love.
These readings invite us to reflect on the nature of true kingship and our place within God’s kingdom. In a world often dominated by power struggles and fleeting ambitions, we are called to live as citizens of a heavenly kingdom, prioritizing truth, love, and service. Let us ask ourselves: Do we recognize Jesus as the true King of our lives? Do we seek to live according to the values of His kingdom—values of humility, compassion, and integrity? May we hear Jesus’ voice and follow Him faithfully, knowing that His kingdom, though not of this world, transforms the world from within.