Daily Readings - Tue Nov 22 2022
Revelation
14And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.15And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.16And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.17And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.18And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.19And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Luke
5And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,6As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.7And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?8And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.9But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.10Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:11And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter vivid imagery from Revelation and Luke, both pointing us toward reflections on the end times and our preparedness. The first reading from Revelation presents a vision of the Son of Man reaping the earth's harvest with a sharp sickle, accompanied by angels who harvest grapes and cast them into God's wrath. This apocalyptic scene symbolizes God's judgment and the final reckoning, urging us to consider our spiritual readiness.
In the Gospel, Luke describes Jesus prophesying the destruction of the temple, a historical event that occurred in 70 AD. Jesus warns against false messiahs and impending disasters, emphasizing that the end is not immediate but will be preceded by turmoil. Both readings, while distinct, share a common theme of preparedness and faithfulness amidst uncertainty.
As we reflect on these passages, we are reminded to stay vigilant and rooted in our faith. In our daily lives, we should avoid complacency and false teachings, instead nurturing our relationship with God and living virtuously. The moral lesson here is clear: trust in God's plan, remain faithful, and be prepared for the unexpected. Let us focus on eternal life, looking beyond earthly concerns to the promise of everlasting peace with God.