Daily Readings - Mon Sep 26 2022

Revelation

9After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;10And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.11And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,12Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.13And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?14And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.15Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.16They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.17For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

2 Corinthians

7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.8We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;9Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;10Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.11For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.12So then death worketh in us, but life in you.13We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;14Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.15For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

Gospel - Luke 9.23-26 or John 12.24-26

Luke

23And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.24For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.25For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?26For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

John

24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the journey of faith, marked by both tribulation and triumph. The first reading from Revelation presents a vision of a multitude from every nation, clothed in white, standing before God’s throne. These are those who have endured great trials and emerged victorious, their robes washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. This imagery reminds us that our earthly struggles are not in vain, for they lead us to eternal glory. The second reading from Corinthians emphasizes that we are but earthen vessels holding a divine treasure. Paul acknowledges the hardships of ministry and life, yet he finds strength in the power of God. He carries the mortification of Jesus in his body, so that the life of Jesus may shine through. This passage encourages us to embrace our weaknesses as opportunities for God’s grace to shine. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches the radical demands of discipleship: denying oneself, taking up the cross daily, and following him. He warns that saving one’s life leads to loss, while losing one’s life for his sake leads to true salvation. This is not about physical death but about dying to self and living for Christ. These readings are deeply connected. Revelation gives us the ultimate vision of salvation, where the faithful stand before God’s throne, free from suffering. Corinthians shows us how we get there—through enduring trials and trusting in God’s power. The Gospel tells us how to live in the present: by embracing the cross and following Jesus. Together, they remind us that our faith journey is not one of comfort but of sacrifice and trust. The cross is not just a symbol of salvation; it is a way of life. In a world that often values ease and comfort, these readings challenge us to re-examine our priorities. Are we willing to let go of our own desires and ambitions for the sake of following Christ? Are we prepared to endure trials, knowing that they are part of the journey toward eternal life? As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us reflect on where we are being called to deny ourselves and take up the cross. Perhaps it is in a difficult relationship, a challenging situation at work, or a personal struggle with sin. Whatever the cross may be, let us remember that it is not an end in itself but a means to deeper union with Christ. The readings assure us that our struggles are not meaningless. They are opportunities for God’s power to be revealed in us, and they prepare us for the eternal life we will share with him. May we embrace the cross with faith and hope, trusting that what seems like loss in this world will be transformed into gain in the next.