Daily Readings - Mon Nov 16 2020
Revelation
1The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:2Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.3Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.4John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
1Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;2I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:3And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.4Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.5Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Luke
35And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:36And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.37And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.38And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.39And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.40And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,41Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.42And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.43And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
Sermon
In today's readings, we explore themes of faith, love, and spiritual perseverance. The first reading from Revelation addresses the Church of Ephesus, commending their endurance and discernment but urging them to rekindle their initial fervor for God. This serves as a reminder to the early Church, and to us, to maintain our spiritual passion amidst challenges. The Gospel from Luke presents a blind man whose persistent faith leads to his healing by Jesus, emphasizing the transformative power of unwavering belief.
Both readings highlight the importance of maintaining our spiritual roots. The Ephesians, despite their endurance, had lost their first love, a lesson for us to regularly assess our spiritual state. Similarly, the blind man's persistence despite opposition teaches us that true faith leads to spiritual sight. These stories encourage us to hold fast to our faith and love, ensuring they remain vibrant in our lives.
As we reflect on these passages, let us consider our own spiritual journeys. Have we, like the Ephesians, allowed our initial fervor to wane? Let us strive to rekindle our love for God and maintain steadfast faith, just as the blind man did. In doing so, we may experience spiritual renewal and draw closer to God. Let us remember that faith and love are not static but dynamic, requiring nurture and attention to flourish.