Daily Readings - Fri Sep 26 2025
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
Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the journey of faith, perseverance, and the ultimate hope that lies before us. In Revelation, we glimpse a glorious vision of the redeemed, a diverse multitude from every nation, standing before the throne of God. They have emerged from great tribulation, their robes washed white by the blood of the Lamb. This passage reminds us that our struggles are not in vain; they prepare us for the eternal life where God will wipe away every tear and lead us to the waters of life. It is a vision of hope, assuring us that our present sufferings are not the end of the story.
In 2 Corinthians, Paul speaks of the paradox of the Christian life. We are fragile, earthen vessels, yet we hold within us the sublime treasure of God’s power. Though we face tribulation, persecution, and suffering, these do not define us. Instead, they reveal the life of Jesus in us. Paul’s words encourage us to embrace our weaknesses, for it is in them that God’s strength shines through. We are called to trust in the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, knowing that our struggles contribute to the greater glory of God.
In the Gospel, Jesus calls us to radical discipleship. Taking up our cross daily means surrendering our will to His, embracing sacrifice, and prioritizing eternal life over worldly comforts. Jesus warns us that to save our lives, we must lose them for His sake. This is not about physical death but about dying to self—letting go of pride, fear, and selfishness. True life is found in following Him, even when the path is difficult. As we navigate the challenges of our own lives, may we remember that our faith is not a shield from suffering but a source of strength to endure it. Let us walk with courage, knowing that our present struggles are but a prelude to the eternal joy that awaits us.