Daily Readings - Sun Nov 24 2024
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of Christ’s kingship and its profound implications for our lives. In the first reading from Daniel, we encounter a vision of the “Son of Man” who comes on the clouds of heaven, receiving dominion, glory, and an everlasting kingdom. This vision points to the universal and eternal sovereignty of God, which transcends human empires and earthly powers. In Revelation, we hear of Jesus as the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, who has loved us, washed us from our sins, and made us a kingdom of priests. This passage underscores Christ’s role as both the faithful witness and the ruler of all creation. In the Gospel, Jesus stands before Pilate and clarifies the nature of His kingdom: it is not of this world, but it is a kingdom of truth. Jesus’ mission is to testify to this truth, and those who belong to the truth will hear His voice.
These readings are deeply interconnected. Daniel’s vision of the Son of Man prefigures Jesus’ revelation as the divine king in Revelation and His testimony before Pilate. Together, they emphasize that Christ’s kingdom is not bound by earthly limitations but is rooted in the eternal and universal truth of God. Jesus’ kingship is not about power or domination but about love, sacrifice, and the establishment of a kingdom of truth and holiness. His reign calls us to live as citizens of this heavenly kingdom, even as we navigate the challenges of the world.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to re-examine our priorities and allegiances. Are we living as subjects of Christ’s kingdom, prioritizing truth, love, and holiness? Do we recognize that our ultimate citizenship is in heaven, and that our actions here should reflect the values of God’s kingdom? Let us ask ourselves: Do we hear and follow the voice of truth, or are we swayed by the fleeting powers of this world? As we celebrate the feast of Christ the King, may we renew our commitment to His kingdom, trusting in His eternal sovereignty and striving to live as faithful witnesses of His truth.