Daily Readings - Thu Nov 24 2022
Revelation
1And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.2And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.21And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.22And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;23And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
1And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:2For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.3And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.9And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Luke
20And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.21Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.22For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.23But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.24And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.25And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;26Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.27And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.28And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on judgment, redemption, and the ultimate triumph of God’s justice. In the first reading from Revelation, we see the dramatic fall of Babylon, a symbol of corruption and evil, and the joyful celebration of God’s victory in heaven. The city, once filled with life and music, is now silent and desolate, a testament to the consequences of turning away from God. The Gospel from Luke, however, shifts our focus to the future, as Jesus describes the signs of the end times and the coming of the Son of Man. He warns of great distress and upheaval but also offers a message of hope: when these events begin to unfold, we are to lift our heads, for our redemption is near.
Both readings are set against the backdrop of apocalyptic imagery, which can be unsettling, but they are ultimately about trust in God’s plan. Revelation was written to comfort persecuted Christians, reminding them that despite the powers of evil in the world, God’s justice will prevail. Similarly, Luke’s passage is part of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse, where He prepares His disciples for the challenges they will face, including the destruction of Jerusalem. These readings remind us that God’s judgment is not just punishment but also a call to repentance and a promise of ultimate restoration.
In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to remain faithful and hopeful, even in the face of uncertainty and trial. They invite us to interpret the chaos of the world through the lens of faith, trusting that God is always working to bring about good. Let us not be afraid of the unknown but instead focus on living lives rooted in love, compassion, and fidelity to God’s will. As we await the final redemption, may we lift our heads with confidence, knowing that God’s justice and mercy will guide us through all things.