Daily Readings - Sat Dec 01 2018
Revelation
1Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb2down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.3No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.4They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.5There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.6The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place."7"Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book."
Luke
34"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.35For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth.36Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."
Sermon
In today's readings, we are presented with vivid imagery from Revelation and a call to vigilance from Luke. The First Reading from Revelation 22:1-7 paints a breathtaking picture of heaven, with the river of life and the Tree of Life bearing fruit for all nations. This vision reassures us of God's promise of eternal life, where His presence is ever-present, and all suffering ceases. The Gospel from Luke 21:34-36, part of Jesus' Olivet Discourse, urges us to remain vigilant and prayerful, lest we be distracted by worldly concerns and unprepared for His return.
Both readings, though from different contexts, converge on the theme of spiritual preparedness. Revelation, written to comfort persecuted Christians, offers a future hope where God's throne is central, and His people worship Him without hindrance. Luke's passage, part of Jesus' teachings on the end times, emphasizes the need to stay alert and focused on spiritual matters. Together, they remind us that our ultimate hope is in eternal life with God, and we must actively prepare for this by maintaining a prayerful and vigilant stance.
In our daily lives, this means being mindful of our spiritual state, avoiding the entanglements of worldly indulgences, and nurturing a deep relationship with God through prayer. The moral lesson here is the importance of trust and preparedness. We are called to live with hope, knowing that God's promises are faithful, and to remain vigilant, keeping our eyes fixed on the eternal life He has promised. Let us embrace this call to live with purpose and hope, trusting in God's plan and striving to stand before Him with hearts ready and true.