Daily Readings - Thu Nov 28 2024
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
In today’s readings, we are presented with vivid imagery of judgment and redemption, both from Revelation and the Gospel of Luke. The first reading from Revelation describes the fall of Babylon, a symbol of corruption and oppression, using dramatic imagery such as a millstone cast into the sea and the absence of music and light. This is followed by a heavenly celebration, with voices praising God for his just judgment. In the Gospel, Jesus warns of the destruction of Jerusalem and the signs that will precede the end times, urging his followers to remain vigilant and hopeful, for their redemption is near.
These readings, though written in different contexts, share a common theme: the ultimate triumph of God’s justice and the call to trust in his plan. Revelation was written to encourage early Christians facing persecution, while Luke’s passage was part of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse, preparing his disciples for the challenges they would face. Both remind us that God’s judgment is not about destruction but about restoring justice and purity. The fall of Babylon and the fall of Jerusalem are not ends in themselves but point to the larger story of God’s redemption.
As we reflect on these readings, we are invited to live with hope and integrity. In a world that often seems torn apart by injustice and suffering, we are called to trust that God’s justice will prevail. Let us not be complacent or discouraged but instead live with faith, perseverance, and hope. May we remain attentive to God’s presence in our lives, knowing that even in the midst of trials, our ultimate redemption draws near.