Daily Readings - Sun Nov 25 2018
Daniel
13"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.14He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Revelation
5before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.6To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.7Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.8"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
John
33Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"34"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"35"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"36Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."37"You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of God’s kingdom and the identity of Jesus as the King of kings. In the first reading from Daniel, we hear a vision of the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, receiving dominion, glory, and kingship over all peoples. This passage, written in the context of persecution and suffering, offers hope to God’s people by pointing to a future where God’s reign will be universal and eternal. In Revelation, we see a similar image of Jesus, who is described as the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings. The passage emphasizes Jesus’ love for us, His sacrifice for our sins, and His ultimate triumph. Both readings set the stage for understanding Jesus’ kingship as something far greater than earthly power.
In the Gospel, Jesus stands before Pilate, who asks if He is the King of the Jews. Jesus responds by clarifying that His kingdom is not of this world. This exchange highlights the misunderstanding that often surrounds Jesus’ mission. Pilate, representing earthly authority, cannot grasp the spiritual nature of Jesus’ reign. Jesus makes it clear that His kingdom is rooted in truth, and those who belong to the truth will listen to His voice. This dialogue reminds us that our allegiance to Jesus must transcend worldly loyalties and ambitions.
These readings call us to live as citizens of God’s kingdom, a kingdom rooted in love, truth, and sacrifice. In our daily lives, we are invited to prioritize the values of this kingdom: humility, compassion, and fidelity to God’s will. Let us ask ourselves: Do we recognize Jesus as the true King of our lives? Do we seek His truth and live according to His teachings? May we be inspired by today’s readings to deepen our commitment to God’s kingdom, knowing that His power endures forever, and His truth will set us free.