Daily Readings - Fri Nov 23 2018
Revelation
8Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: "Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land."9So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, "Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey."10I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.11Then I was told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings."
Luke
45Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling.46"It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be a house of prayer'; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"47Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him.48Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on our role as messengers of God’s word. The first reading from Revelation presents John being instructed by a voice from heaven to take a book from an angel. This book, sweet in the mouth but bitter in the stomach, symbolizes the dual nature of God’s message—bringing joy in its reception but also the burden of its proclamation. John’s experience reminds us that embracing God’s word is not without its challenges; it often requires us to confront discomfort and adversity.
The Gospel from Luke depicts Jesus cleansing the temple, driving out merchants and teaching the people. Despite the opposition from religious leaders, Jesus’ authority and message resonate deeply with the crowd. This passage highlights Jesus’ unwavering commitment to His mission, even in the face of resistance. Both readings share a common theme: the call to proclaim God’s truth, whether through prophetic visions or through teaching, in the midst of challenges.
In our daily lives, we are called to be bearers of God’s message, just like John and Jesus. This may mean standing up for justice, sharing our faith, or simply living according to God’s will. It is easy to feel discouraged when faced with resistance or discomfort, but these readings encourage us to persevere. Let us draw courage from Jesus’ example, trusting that our fidelity to His word will ultimately bring light and hope to those around us. May we embrace the sweetness of God’s truth and endure the bitterness with faith, knowing that our proclamation of His love can transform the world.