Daily Readings - Tue Nov 17 2020
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
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages about spiritual vigilance and the transformative power of encountering Christ. The first reading from Revelation addresses the churches in Sardis and Laodicea, urging them to awaken from their spiritual complacency. The church in Sardis is warned that while it appears alive, it is actually dead, and the church in Laodicea is rebuked for being lukewarm, neither fully committed nor entirely indifferent. Both communities are called to repentance, to seek the gold tested by fire, and to open the door to Christ’s presence in their lives. The Gospel from Luke presents us with the story of Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector who, despite his small stature and social marginalization, seeks Jesus with determination. When Jesus enters Zacchaeus’ home, it sparks a profound conversion: Zacchaeus pledges to give half his goods to the poor and to repay fourfold those he has cheated. Jesus declares that salvation has come to his house because Zacchaeus, like a true son of Abraham, has responded to God’s grace.
These readings are deeply connected in their emphasis on spiritual awakening and the call to live with integrity. Revelation’s message to the churches serves as a wake-up call, urging believers not to settle for mediocrity in their faith. Similarly, Zacchaeus’ story illustrates what it means to respond wholeheartedly to Christ’s presence. His actions demonstrate that true conversion involves not only a change of heart but also a change in behavior, particularly in how we treat others and use our resources. Both readings remind us that faith is not a passive state but an active, dynamic relationship with God that transforms every aspect of our lives.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are we spiritually lukewarm, going through the motions of faith without real passion or commitment? Do we allow Christ to enter our lives and challenge us to change? Zacchaeus’ example shows us that encountering Christ can lead to radical transformation, but it requires humility, openness, and a willingness to act. Let us strive to be vigilant in our faith, to seek the “gold tested by fire,” and to live in a way that reflects the love and justice of God. May we, like Zacchaeus, welcome Christ into our homes and hearts, and may our lives bear fruit in accordance with his will.