Daily Readings - Tue Nov 17 2020
Revelation
1"To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.2Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.3Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.4Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.5He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.6He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.14"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!16So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.17You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.21To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Luke
1Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.2A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.3He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd.4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.5When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."6So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.7All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'"8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."9Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages about spiritual vigilance and the transformative power of encountering Christ. The first reading from Revelation addresses the churches in Sardis and Laodicea, urging them to awaken from their spiritual complacency. The church in Sardis is warned that while it appears alive, it is actually dead, and the church in Laodicea is rebuked for being lukewarm, neither fully committed nor entirely indifferent. Both communities are called to repentance, to seek the gold tested by fire, and to open the door to Christ’s presence in their lives. The Gospel from Luke presents us with the story of Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector who, despite his small stature and social marginalization, seeks Jesus with determination. When Jesus enters Zacchaeus’ home, it sparks a profound conversion: Zacchaeus pledges to give half his goods to the poor and to repay fourfold those he has cheated. Jesus declares that salvation has come to his house because Zacchaeus, like a true son of Abraham, has responded to God’s grace.
These readings are deeply connected in their emphasis on spiritual awakening and the call to live with integrity. Revelation’s message to the churches serves as a wake-up call, urging believers not to settle for mediocrity in their faith. Similarly, Zacchaeus’ story illustrates what it means to respond wholeheartedly to Christ’s presence. His actions demonstrate that true conversion involves not only a change of heart but also a change in behavior, particularly in how we treat others and use our resources. Both readings remind us that faith is not a passive state but an active, dynamic relationship with God that transforms every aspect of our lives.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are we spiritually lukewarm, going through the motions of faith without real passion or commitment? Do we allow Christ to enter our lives and challenge us to change? Zacchaeus’ example shows us that encountering Christ can lead to radical transformation, but it requires humility, openness, and a willingness to act. Let us strive to be vigilant in our faith, to seek the “gold tested by fire,” and to live in a way that reflects the love and justice of God. May we, like Zacchaeus, welcome Christ into our homes and hearts, and may our lives bear fruit in accordance with his will.