Daily Readings - Tue Nov 26 2024
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 touching on themes of transformation and the end times. Revelation 14:14-19 describes a figure on a cloud with a sickle, reaping the earth, symbolizing God's judgment and the harvest of souls. Another angel harvests grapes, casting them into God's wrath, a metaphor for the consequences of unrepented sin. This apocalyptic vision, written to comfort persecuted Christians, uses symbols to depict the ultimate triumph of God over evil.
In Luke 21:5-11, Jesus discusses the temple's destruction, warning his disciples against false messiahs and the chaos of wars and natural disasters. These events, while unsettling, are not the end but part of the journey. Historically, this passage reflects the temple's destruction in 70 AD, yet it also points to future eschatological events, urging believers to remain steadfast.
Both readings remind us to trust in God's plan amidst turmoil. They encourage perseverance and faith, emphasizing that current struggles are part of a larger divine narrative. The moral lesson is clear: stay faithful, avoid false promises, and find strength in God's enduring presence. Let us embrace this trust, living each day with hope and devotion, knowing God's ultimate triumph will bring us peace.