Daily Readings - Fri Sep 29 2023
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
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the cosmic struggle between good and evil, as well as the transformative power of faith in Jesus Christ. The first reading from Revelation describes a great battle in heaven between Michael and his angels and the dragon, who is identified as Satan. This passage is rich in symbolism, drawing from Jewish apocalyptic literature to depict the ultimate defeat of evil and the triumph of God’s kingdom. The dragon, cast down to earth, represents the forces of sin and deception that seek to divide and destroy. Yet, the reading assures us that the victory belongs to God, and His people overcome evil through the blood of the Lamb and the testimony of their faith.
The Gospel reading from John shifts our focus to a more personal encounter with Jesus. Nathanael, initially skeptical, comes to recognize Jesus as the Son of God and the King of Israel after a simple yet profound revelation—Jesus saw him under the fig tree before they met. This moment of insight leads Nathanael to faith, and Jesus promises him that he will see even greater things, including the vision of heaven opened and angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man. This image evokes Jacob’s ladder from Genesis, symbolizing the connection between heaven and earth established through Jesus.
Together, these readings invite us to reflect on our own place in the spiritual battle and our relationship with Christ. Like Nathanael, we are called to trust in God’s revelation, even when it seems mysterious or unexpected. In a world often filled with confusion and division, we are reminded that our ultimate hope lies in the victory of God’s kingdom, already begun through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Let us, therefore, live with courage and faith, knowing that we are part of a larger story where good triumphs over evil, and heaven is ever-present in our lives.