Daily Readings - Tue Nov 27 2018
Revelation
14And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.15And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.16And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.17And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.18And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.19And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Luke
5And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,6As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.7And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?8And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.9But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.10Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:11And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the ultimate triumph of God and the call to remain vigilant in our faith. In the first reading from Revelation, we see a vision of the Son of Man sitting on a cloud, wielding a sharp sickle. This image symbolizes the divine judgment and the harvest of the earth, where the ripe crops are gathered and the clusters of grapes are pressed in the winepress of God’s wrath. The passage reminds us that God’s justice will prevail, and all things will be brought to their fulfillment in His time.
In the Gospel, Jesus warns His disciples about the destruction of the temple and the chaos that will precede the end times. He cautions them against being deceived by false messiahs and the turmoil of wars, earthquakes, and famines. Jesus is not predicting a specific timeline but urging His followers to remain steadfast and trusting in God’s plan. The temple, once a symbol of God’s presence, will be reduced to rubble, but Jesus’ words remind us that true security lies not in earthly structures but in our relationship with the living God.
These readings challenge us to live with integrity and faith in the midst of uncertainty. Like the disciples, we may face trials and confusion, but Jesus calls us to stay vigilant and rooted in His teachings. The harvest imagery in Revelation reminds us that our actions have consequences and that God will ultimately separate the wheat from the chaff. Let us strive to live in a way that reflects our commitment to Christ, trusting that even in the darkest times, God’s plan will unfold. May we remain faithful and hopeful, knowing that the final victory belongs to Him.