Daily Readings - Fri Nov 16 2018
2 John
4It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.5And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.6And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.7Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.8Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.9Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
Luke
26"Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man.27People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.28"It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building.29But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.30"It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed.31On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything.32Remember Lot's wife!33Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.34I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left.35Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left."36Verse omitted from the New International Version37"Where, Lord?" they asked. He replied, "Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the importance of fidelity to our faith and preparedness for God’s judgment. The second reading from 2 John emphasizes walking in truth and love, cautioning against false teachings that deny Jesus as the Messiah. It underscores the commandment to love one another, which is rooted in following God’s teachings. The Gospel from Luke uses the examples of Noah and Lot to illustrate the suddenness of God’s judgment, urging us not to be caught off guard and to avoid the temptation to look back, as Lot’s wife did.
Both readings are set within contexts that highlight the importance of steadfastness. John’s letter addresses a community facing deception, encouraging them to remain true to the teachings of Christ. Luke’s passage, part of Jesus’ eschatological teachings, reminds us to be vigilant and prepared for the unexpected return of the Son of Man. Together, they call us to live with integrity and moral consistency, adhering to God’s commandments and avoiding complacency.
In our daily lives, this means embracing a life of faith and moral living. We are to stay true to our beliefs, avoiding the distractions and false allurements of the world. The moral lesson here is clear: live each day with the mindfulness that it could be our last, staying vigilant and faithful. Let us strive to remain steadfast in our commitment to God, ensuring that our actions and beliefs align with His teachings, ever prepared to meet Him when He comes.