Daily Readings - Wed Sep 26 2018
Revelation
9After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;10And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.11And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,12Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.13And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?14And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.15Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.16They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.17For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
2 Corinthians
7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.8We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;9Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;10Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.11For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.12So then death worketh in us, but life in you.13We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;14Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.15For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
Gospel - Luke 9.23-26 or John 12.24-26
Luke
23And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.24For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.25For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?26For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
John
24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are presented with a powerful narrative of faith, endurance, and the promise of eternal life. The first reading from Revelation paints a vivid picture of a heavenly multitude, clothed in white, worshiping before the throne. These individuals have emerged from great tribulation, their robes purified by the blood of the Lamb. This vision reminds us that our earthly struggles are not in vain, for they lead us to eternal communion with God.
Paul's letter to the Corinthians bridges the gap between this heavenly vision and our earthly reality. He speaks of holding divine treasure in fragile human vessels, emphasizing that our weaknesses reveal God's power. Despite facing tribulations and persecutions, believers endure, carrying the mortification of Jesus in their bodies so that His life may shine through. This enduring with faith, Paul explains, is rooted in the hope of resurrection, where our present sufferings participate in Christ's death and life.
In the Gospel, Jesus calls us to the path of discipleship, urging us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him. This call is not to a life of ease but to one of purposeful suffering, where true life is found in surrender. The readings collectively remind us that our daily struggles, when borne with faith, are not mere endurance but a participation in Christ's journey. They invite us to embrace our crosses, trusting that through them, we find life in Christ. Let us, therefore, approach each trial with the courage of faith, knowing that our perseverance leads us to eternal glory.