Daily Readings - Tue Nov 19 2024
Revelation
1"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: 'The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars."'I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.2Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.3Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.4Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.5The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.6He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'14"And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.15"'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.17For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.19Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.21The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
Luke
1He entered Jericho and was passing through.2And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.3And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature.4So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today."6So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.7And when they saw it, they all grumbled, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner."8And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold."9And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
Sermon
The readings today offer a powerful reminder of the call to spiritual vigilance and the transformative power of repentance. In the first reading from Revelation, Jesus speaks to the Churches of Sardis and Laodicea, urging them to awaken from their spiritual complacency. To Sardis, he warns that having a reputation for being alive does not necessarily mean they are truly living in faith. To Laodicea, he condemns their lukewarmness, calling them to repentance and a deeper relationship with him. These words are not just for the early Christian communities but are a timeless call to us today to examine our own spiritual state and to strive for a vibrant, living faith.
The Gospel from Luke provides a beautiful example of what this transformative repentance looks like. Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector, is moved by Jesus’ presence to make radical changes in his life. Though shunned by society for his role as a tax collector, Zacchaeus’ desire to see Jesus leads him to climb a tree, and ultimately, to welcome Jesus into his home. Jesus’ presence sparks Zacchaeus’ repentance, and he commits to giving half his goods to the poor and repaying fourfold anyone he has cheated. This story shows that true repentance is not just feeling sorry for sin but actively turning away from sin and living in a way that reflects God’s justice and mercy.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives. Are we spiritually lukewarm, going through the motions of faith without a deep connection to Christ? Or are we like Zacchaeus, willing to take bold steps to encounter Jesus and allow him to transform our lives? Jesus stands at the door of our hearts and knocks, inviting us to open ourselves to his presence. Let us respond by seeking him with humility, repenting of our sins, and living in a way that reflects the love and justice of God. May we, like Zacchaeus, experience the joy of salvation and share it with others.