Daily Readings - Fri Nov 29 2024
Revelation
1Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain.2And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,3and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.4Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.11Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.13And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.14Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.15And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Luke
29And he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.30As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near.31So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.32Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place.33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the ultimate triumph of God’s plan and the call to live with hope and vigilance. In the first reading from Revelation, we are given a vision of the end times: Satan is bound for a thousand years, the martyrs reign with Christ, and ultimately, God creates a new heaven and a new earth. This passage is not meant to be a literal description of the future but a symbolic assurance that God’s justice and love will prevail. It reminds us that despite the struggles and evils of this world, God’s final victory is certain, and all creation will be transformed.
The Gospel reading from Luke complements this vision by emphasizing the importance of being attentive to the signs of God’s kingdom. Jesus uses the example of the fig tree to teach that just as we can recognize the approach of summer by the changes in nature, so too can we discern the nearness of God’s kingdom by the events unfolding around us. This is not a call to fear or anxiety but to trust in God’s Word and to live with hope. Jesus assures us that while heaven and earth will pass away, his words will endure forever.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to live with faith and perseverance. We are called to trust in God’s plan, even when the world around us seems uncertain or chaotic. Like the martyrs in Revelation, we are invited to remain faithful, even in the face of challenges, knowing that our ultimate destiny is to share in the eternal life of the new heaven and the new earth. Let us strive to live each day with hope, keeping our eyes fixed on the promise of God’s kingdom, and trusting that his Word will guide us through all things.