Daily Readings - Mon Nov 21 2022
Revelation
1Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.2And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps,3and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.4It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb,5and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.
Luke
1Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box,2and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.3And he said, "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.4For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
Sermon
The first reading from Revelation paints a vivid picture of the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, surrounded by 144,000 redeemed souls. These individuals are described as pure and unblemished, having been faithful to God without compromise. The passage emphasizes their devotion to the Lamb and their purity of heart, as they sing a new canticle before the throne of God. This vision is a glimpse into the ultimate triumph of God’s people, who have remained steadfast in their faith despite the challenges of the world.
In the Gospel, Luke presents a stark contrast between the wealthy who give from their abundance and the poor widow who offers her last two coins. Jesus points out that the widow’s offering, though small in material value, is far greater in the eyes of God because it represents her total surrender and trust in God’s providence. This teaching challenges us to reflect on the quality of our own giving—whether it is done with love, generosity, and faith, or merely out of obligation.
Both readings invite us to consider the depth of our commitment to God. The 144,000 in Revelation represent those who have given their all to follow the Lamb, while the widow in Luke exemplifies radical trust in God’s care. In our daily lives, we are called to live with this same kind of surrender and generosity. Whether through our time, talents, or resources, we are to offer everything to God, trusting that He will provide for us. Let us strive to live as people of faith, giving freely and loving deeply, just as the widow and the redeemed in today’s readings.