Daily Readings - Thu Sep 29 2022
First Reading - Revelation 12.7-12a or Daniel 7.9-10, 13-14
Revelation
7And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,8And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.10And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.12Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Daniel
9I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.10A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.13I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.14And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
John
47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!48Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.50Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.51And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the triumph of good over evil and the power of faith in our lives. The first reading from Revelation 12:7-12a vividly describes a cosmic battle where Michael defeats Satan, casting him out of heaven. This passage, rich in apocalyptic imagery, reassures us of God's ultimate victory, offering hope amidst life's challenges. The Gospel from John 1:47-51 shifts focus to a personal encounter, where Nathanael recognizes Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus' promise of greater things to come inspires faith and trust in God's plan.
Both readings, though different in context, share a common theme of trust and faith. Revelation addresses the early Christian communities' struggles with persecution, using symbolic imagery to convey God's triumph. John's narrative highlights individual faith, as Nathanael's recognition of Jesus exemplifies trust in the divine. Together, they remind us that our personal struggles are part of a larger cosmic narrative, where good ultimately prevails.
In daily life, these readings encourage us to trust in God's plan, especially when faced with adversity. Like Nathanael, we are called to recognize Jesus as our savior and embrace faith, even when the path is unclear. The moral lesson here is one of hope and trust—knowing that through faith in Jesus, we can overcome evil and find strength in God's assured victory. Let us live with hope, trusting in God's plan and open to the greater things He has in store.