Daily Readings - Tue Nov 22 2022
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
In today's readings, we encounter vivid imagery from Revelation and Luke, both pointing us toward reflections on the end times and our preparedness. The first reading from Revelation presents a vision of the Son of Man reaping the earth's harvest with a sharp sickle, accompanied by angels who harvest grapes and cast them into God's wrath. This apocalyptic scene symbolizes God's judgment and the final reckoning, urging us to consider our spiritual readiness.
In the Gospel, Luke describes Jesus prophesying the destruction of the temple, a historical event that occurred in 70 AD. Jesus warns against false messiahs and impending disasters, emphasizing that the end is not immediate but will be preceded by turmoil. Both readings, while distinct, share a common theme of preparedness and faithfulness amidst uncertainty.
As we reflect on these passages, we are reminded to stay vigilant and rooted in our faith. In our daily lives, we should avoid complacency and false teachings, instead nurturing our relationship with God and living virtuously. The moral lesson here is clear: trust in God's plan, remain faithful, and be prepared for the unexpected. Let us focus on eternal life, looking beyond earthly concerns to the promise of everlasting peace with God.