Daily Readings - Fri Sep 29 2017
First Reading - Revelation 12.7-12a
Revelation
7And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,8And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.10And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.12Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Gospel - John 1.47-51
John
47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!48Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.50Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.51And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
Sermon
The first reading from Revelation paints a dramatic scene of a cosmic battle between good and evil. Michael and the angels of heaven defeat the dragon, Satan, who is cast out of heaven and thrown down to earth. This passage is not just about a battle; it’s about the ultimate triumph of God’s kingdom over evil. The dragon, representing Satan, is the deceiver of the world, but his power is limited and his time is short. The reading reminds us that our strength comes not from ourselves, but from the blood of the Lamb and the testimony of faith. Even in the face of evil, we are called to trust in God’s victory and to rejoice in His kingdom.
In the Gospel, Jesus meets Nathanael, who is initially skeptical but quickly comes to faith when Jesus reveals his knowledge of Nathanael’s life. Jesus sees Nathanael under the fig tree, a moment that speaks of intimacy and divine knowledge. Nathanael’s response, “You are the Son of God, the King of Israel,” shows the depth of his faith. Jesus then promises Nathanael that he will see even greater things—Angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man. This passage invites us to reflect on our own encounters with Jesus. Do we, like Nathanael, allow ourselves to be seen and known by God? Do we trust in His divine plan, even when we cannot fully understand it?
Both readings invite us to live with faith and hope in the midst of life’s challenges. The battle between good and evil is real, but we know that God has already won the war through the sacrifice of His Son. Like Nathanael, we are called to trust in Jesus, even when the road ahead seems uncertain. Let us remember that our strength lies not in our own efforts, but in the power of God’s love and mercy. As we navigate the ups and downs of daily life, may we always turn to Him, knowing that He sees us, knows us, and guides us toward His kingdom.