Daily Readings - Tue Nov 19 2024
Revelation
1And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.3Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.4Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.5He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.6He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.14And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Luke
1And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.2And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.3And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.4And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.6And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.7And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.8And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.9And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.10For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Sermon
The readings today offer a powerful reminder of the call to spiritual vigilance and the transformative power of repentance. In the first reading from Revelation, Jesus speaks to the Churches of Sardis and Laodicea, urging them to awaken from their spiritual complacency. To Sardis, he warns that having a reputation for being alive does not necessarily mean they are truly living in faith. To Laodicea, he condemns their lukewarmness, calling them to repentance and a deeper relationship with him. These words are not just for the early Christian communities but are a timeless call to us today to examine our own spiritual state and to strive for a vibrant, living faith.
The Gospel from Luke provides a beautiful example of what this transformative repentance looks like. Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector, is moved by Jesus’ presence to make radical changes in his life. Though shunned by society for his role as a tax collector, Zacchaeus’ desire to see Jesus leads him to climb a tree, and ultimately, to welcome Jesus into his home. Jesus’ presence sparks Zacchaeus’ repentance, and he commits to giving half his goods to the poor and repaying fourfold anyone he has cheated. This story shows that true repentance is not just feeling sorry for sin but actively turning away from sin and living in a way that reflects God’s justice and mercy.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives. Are we spiritually lukewarm, going through the motions of faith without a deep connection to Christ? Or are we like Zacchaeus, willing to take bold steps to encounter Jesus and allow him to transform our lives? Jesus stands at the door of our hearts and knocks, inviting us to open ourselves to his presence. Let us respond by seeking him with humility, repenting of our sins, and living in a way that reflects the love and justice of God. May we, like Zacchaeus, experience the joy of salvation and share it with others.