Daily Readings - Tue Sep 26 2023
Revelation
9After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,10and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"11And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,12saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."13Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?"14I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.15"Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.16They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.17For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
2 Corinthians
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.8We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;10always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.11For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.12So death is at work in us, but life in you.13Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, "I believed, and so I spoke," we also believe, and so we also speak,14knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.15For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
Gospel - Luke 9.23-26 or John 12.24-26
Luke
23And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.24For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.25For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?26For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
John
24Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.25Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.26If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful visions and teachings that guide us in our Christian journey. The first reading from Revelation presents a glorious vision of a multitude from every nation worshiping before God's throne, having endured great tribulation. This scene offers a glimpse of the eternal life awaiting those who persevere, free from suffering and in God's presence. The second reading from Corinthians reminds us that our bodies, though frail, hold the treasure of the Gospel. Paul emphasizes that through our struggles, God's power is revealed, and the life of Jesus is manifested in us. The Gospel from Luke is a direct call from Jesus to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow him, underscoring that true life is found in losing ourselves for his sake.
These readings are deeply connected, each illuminating different facets of the Christian experience. Revelation provides the ultimate hope, Corinthians the present struggle, and the Gospel the call to action. Together, they remind us that our trials are not in vain but are opportunities for God's power to shine through us. Embracing our crosses, as Jesus taught, means living with commitment and self-denial, trusting in God's strength to sustain us.
In our daily lives, this means facing challenges with faith, knowing that our perseverance is part of a larger story of God's triumph. We are called to trust in His plan, even when the path is difficult. The moral lesson here is clear: our commitment to Christ is paramount, and through self-denial and trust, we find true life. Let us embrace our crosses with hope, knowing that our struggles contribute to a greater purpose, leading us toward eternal life with God.