Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 26, 2018
First Reading: Revelation 14.1-3, 4b-5
1Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.2And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.3And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.4These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.5No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.
Psalm 24
1The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;2for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.3Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?4He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.5He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior.6Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. Selah7Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.8Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.9Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.10Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty- he is the King of glory. Selah
Gospel: Luke 21.1-4
1As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.2He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.3"I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others.4All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful visions of devotion and sacrifice. The first, from Revelation, presents a glorious scene of the Lamb on Mount Zion, accompanied by 144,000 faithful followers. These individuals are marked by their purity and unwavering commitment to God, untainted by worldly desires. They sing a new song, a hymn of praise that only they can sing, for they have been redeemed and stand without blemish before God’s throne. This passage invites us to reflect on the ultimate goal of our faith: to stand before God, pure and faithful, having given our all to Him.
In the Gospel, Luke presents a stark contrast between the wealthy and the poor widow. While the wealthy give from their abundance, the widow offers her last two coins. Jesus praises her, not for the amount she gave, but for the sacrifice it represented. She gave all she had, trusting in God’s providence. This story challenges us to examine our own giving—whether it is from our surplus or from our very need. True generosity, Jesus teaches, is not measured by quantity but by the depth of our surrender and trust in God.
Both readings call us to a life of total commitment to God. The vision in Revelation reminds us that our ultimate destiny is to stand before God, pure and faithful, having given our lives completely to Him. The story of the widow challenges us to live this commitment concretely, even in the smallest details of our daily lives. Let us ask ourselves: Am I giving God my all, or am I holding back? Am I trusting in His providence, or am I clinging to what I think I need? May we, like the widow, learn to give generously, not just from our abundance, but from the depths of our hearts, knowing that true devotion is measured by the sacrifice we make for love of Him.