Daily Readings - Tue Nov 20 2018
Revelation
1And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.3Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.4Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.5He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.6He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.14And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Luke
1And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.2And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.3And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.4And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.6And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.7And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.8And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.9And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.10For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Sermon
The readings today offer a powerful call to spiritual vigilance and conversion. In the first reading from Revelation, Jesus addresses the Churches of Sardis and Laodicea, challenging them to examine their spiritual state. The Church of Sardis is warned that, though it appears alive, it is spiritually dead and must repent and hold fast to what remains. The Church of Laodicea is rebuked for its lukewarmness, its false sense of self-sufficiency, and its spiritual blindness. Jesus urges them to seek true wealth in gold refined by fire and to open their hearts to his presence. These messages remind us that complacency and mediocrity have no place in the Christian life.
In the Gospel, we encounter Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector who, despite his small stature and social ostracism, seeks Jesus with determination. Climbing a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of him, Zacchaeus experiences a profound encounter. Jesus not only sees him but also chooses to stay in his home, a gesture of divine mercy and acceptance. This encounter transforms Zacchaeus, leading him to repentance and a commitment to justice and generosity. His story shows that true conversion is not just a change of heart but also a change in actions, as he resolves to give half his goods to the poor and make restitution for any wrongdoing.
These readings are deeply connected. Both emphasize the need for spiritual awakening and the transformative power of encountering Christ. The Churches in Revelation are called to move beyond superficial faith, while Zacchaeus exemplifies what it means to respond to God’s grace with humility, repentance, and concrete actions. For us today, the message is clear: we must not settle for a lukewarm or complacent faith. Instead, we are invited to open our hearts to Jesus, to seek him with determination, and to allow his presence to transform our lives. Let us ask ourselves: Are we spiritually vigilant? Are we living with the kind of faith that bears fruit in love, justice, and generosity? May we, like Zacchaeus, welcome Jesus into our lives and allow his mercy to lead us to true conversion and a deeper relationship with him.