Daily Readings - Sun Nov 18 2018
Daniel
1And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.2And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.3And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Hebrews
11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.18Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Mark
24But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,25And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.26And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.27And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.28Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:29So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.30Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.31Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.32But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the ultimate triumph of God’s plan and the call to live with hope and readiness. In the first reading from Daniel, we hear of a time of great distress but also of salvation for God’s people. Michael, the great protector, will rise, and those whose names are written in the book will be saved. The passage reminds us that even in the darkest moments, God’s justice and mercy will prevail. The second reading from Hebrews shifts our focus to the present reality of our salvation. It contrasts the endless sacrifices of the old covenant with the single, perfect sacrifice of Christ, which has already achieved our sanctification. This reminds us that our salvation is not something we wait for in the future but is already a present reality through Christ’s work.
The Gospel from Mark takes us to the end times, where we see cosmic upheaval and the coming of the Son of Man in power and glory. Jesus urges us to discern the signs of the times and to be ready, just as we know summer is near when we see the fig tree bloom. This passage is not meant to frighten us but to encourage us to live with purpose and vigilance, trusting in God’s promise that his word will endure even when all else passes away. Together, these readings remind us that our faith is rooted in the past (Christ’s sacrifice), lived in the present (our sanctification), and directed toward the future (the final triumph of God).
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us remember that we are called to live as people who are already saved but still await the fullness of God’s kingdom. This means living with gratitude for the gift of salvation, trusting in God’s plan even when the world around us seems uncertain, and being faithful in our daily lives. May we shine like the stars in the firmament, as Daniel says, by living justly and teaching others the ways of justice. Let us also remember that our ultimate hope is not in the things of this world but in the eternal word of God, which will never pass away.