Daily Readings - Mon Nov 18 2024
Revelation
1The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:2Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.3Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.4John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
1Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;2I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:3And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.4Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.5Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Luke
35And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:36And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.37And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.38And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.39And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.40And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,41Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.42And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.43And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages about faith, perseverance, and the call to remain steadfast in our relationship with God. The first reading from Revelation commends the Church of Ephesus for their endurance and discernment in testing false apostles, yet it also issues a solemn warning: they have abandoned the love they once had. This serves as a reminder to us all to reflect on our own spiritual journey and ensure that our love for God remains vibrant and central in our lives. The Gospel from Luke presents the story of a blind man who, despite being rebuked by the crowd, persists in crying out to Jesus for mercy. His unwavering faith leads to his healing, and he follows Jesus, glorifying God.
The context of these readings is rooted in the early Christian experience. Revelation was written to encourage Churches facing persecution and challenges, urging them to remain faithful. Similarly, the Gospel story highlights Jesus’ compassion and the transformative power of faith. Both readings emphasize the importance of perseverance and authentic devotion. The blind man’s persistence in the face of rejection mirrors the challenges faced by the early Christians, and both stories remind us that our faith must be lived out with courage and fidelity.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are invited to examine our own relationship with God. Have we, like the Ephesians, allowed our initial fervor to wane? Do we, like the blind man, trust in God’s mercy and power even when faced with obstacles? These questions call us to repentance and renewal. Let us strive to rekindle our first love for God and to live our faith with the same persistence and hope shown by the blind man. May we, like him, experience the healing power of Jesus and follow Him with gratitude and praise.