Daily Readings - Fri Nov 23 2018
Revelation
8And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.9And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.10And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.11And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
Luke
45And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;46Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.47And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,48And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on our role as messengers of God’s word. The first reading from Revelation presents John being instructed by a voice from heaven to take a book from an angel. This book, sweet in the mouth but bitter in the stomach, symbolizes the dual nature of God’s message—bringing joy in its reception but also the burden of its proclamation. John’s experience reminds us that embracing God’s word is not without its challenges; it often requires us to confront discomfort and adversity.
The Gospel from Luke depicts Jesus cleansing the temple, driving out merchants and teaching the people. Despite the opposition from religious leaders, Jesus’ authority and message resonate deeply with the crowd. This passage highlights Jesus’ unwavering commitment to His mission, even in the face of resistance. Both readings share a common theme: the call to proclaim God’s truth, whether through prophetic visions or through teaching, in the midst of challenges.
In our daily lives, we are called to be bearers of God’s message, just like John and Jesus. This may mean standing up for justice, sharing our faith, or simply living according to God’s will. It is easy to feel discouraged when faced with resistance or discomfort, but these readings encourage us to persevere. Let us draw courage from Jesus’ example, trusting that our fidelity to His word will ultimately bring light and hope to those around us. May we embrace the sweetness of God’s truth and endure the bitterness with faith, knowing that our proclamation of His love can transform the world.