Daily Readings - Sat Dec 01 2018
Revelation
1And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.2In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.3And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:4And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.5And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.6And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.7Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
Luke
34And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.36Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are presented with vivid imagery from Revelation and a call to vigilance from Luke. The First Reading from Revelation 22:1-7 paints a breathtaking picture of heaven, with the river of life and the Tree of Life bearing fruit for all nations. This vision reassures us of God's promise of eternal life, where His presence is ever-present, and all suffering ceases. The Gospel from Luke 21:34-36, part of Jesus' Olivet Discourse, urges us to remain vigilant and prayerful, lest we be distracted by worldly concerns and unprepared for His return.
Both readings, though from different contexts, converge on the theme of spiritual preparedness. Revelation, written to comfort persecuted Christians, offers a future hope where God's throne is central, and His people worship Him without hindrance. Luke's passage, part of Jesus' teachings on the end times, emphasizes the need to stay alert and focused on spiritual matters. Together, they remind us that our ultimate hope is in eternal life with God, and we must actively prepare for this by maintaining a prayerful and vigilant stance.
In our daily lives, this means being mindful of our spiritual state, avoiding the entanglements of worldly indulgences, and nurturing a deep relationship with God through prayer. The moral lesson here is the importance of trust and preparedness. We are called to live with hope, knowing that God's promises are faithful, and to remain vigilant, keeping our eyes fixed on the eternal life He has promised. Let us embrace this call to live with purpose and hope, trusting in God's plan and striving to stand before Him with hearts ready and true.