Daily Readings - Tue Sep 26 2023
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 encounter powerful visions and teachings that guide us in our Christian journey. The first reading from Revelation presents a glorious vision of a multitude from every nation worshiping before God's throne, having endured great tribulation. This scene offers a glimpse of the eternal life awaiting those who persevere, free from suffering and in God's presence. The second reading from Corinthians reminds us that our bodies, though frail, hold the treasure of the Gospel. Paul emphasizes that through our struggles, God's power is revealed, and the life of Jesus is manifested in us. The Gospel from Luke is a direct call from Jesus to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow him, underscoring that true life is found in losing ourselves for his sake.
These readings are deeply connected, each illuminating different facets of the Christian experience. Revelation provides the ultimate hope, Corinthians the present struggle, and the Gospel the call to action. Together, they remind us that our trials are not in vain but are opportunities for God's power to shine through us. Embracing our crosses, as Jesus taught, means living with commitment and self-denial, trusting in God's strength to sustain us.
In our daily lives, this means facing challenges with faith, knowing that our perseverance is part of a larger story of God's triumph. We are called to trust in His plan, even when the path is difficult. The moral lesson here is clear: our commitment to Christ is paramount, and through self-denial and trust, we find true life. Let us embrace our crosses with hope, knowing that our struggles contribute to a greater purpose, leading us toward eternal life with God.