Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 27, 2018
First Reading: Revelation 14.14-19
14I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one "like a son of man" with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.15Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, "Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe."16So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.17Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle.18Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, "Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth's vine, because its grapes are ripe."19The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath.
Psalm 96
1Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.2Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.3Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.4For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.5For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.6Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary.7Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.8Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts.9Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.10Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.11Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it;12let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;13they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth.
Gospel: Luke 21.5-11
5Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said,6"As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down."7"Teacher," they asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?"8He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them.9When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away."10Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.11There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the ultimate triumph of God and the call to remain vigilant in our faith. In the first reading from Revelation, we see a vision of the Son of Man sitting on a cloud, wielding a sharp sickle. This image symbolizes the divine judgment and the harvest of the earth, where the ripe crops are gathered and the clusters of grapes are pressed in the winepress of God’s wrath. The passage reminds us that God’s justice will prevail, and all things will be brought to their fulfillment in His time.
In the Gospel, Jesus warns His disciples about the destruction of the temple and the chaos that will precede the end times. He cautions them against being deceived by false messiahs and the turmoil of wars, earthquakes, and famines. Jesus is not predicting a specific timeline but urging His followers to remain steadfast and trusting in God’s plan. The temple, once a symbol of God’s presence, will be reduced to rubble, but Jesus’ words remind us that true security lies not in earthly structures but in our relationship with the living God.
These readings challenge us to live with integrity and faith in the midst of uncertainty. Like the disciples, we may face trials and confusion, but Jesus calls us to stay vigilant and rooted in His teachings. The harvest imagery in Revelation reminds us that our actions have consequences and that God will ultimately separate the wheat from the chaff. Let us strive to live in a way that reflects our commitment to Christ, trusting that even in the darkest times, God’s plan will unfold. May we remain faithful and hopeful, knowing that the final victory belongs to Him.