Daily Readings - Tue Nov 15 2022
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 transformation. The first reading from Revelation addresses the churches of Sardis and Laodicea, urging them to awaken from their spiritual complacency. Jesus warns against being lukewarm, emphasizing the need for repentance and a return to fervent faith. The Gospel from Luke presents the story of Zacchaeus, a tax collector whose encounter with Jesus leads to a profound change in his life, exemplifying repentance and the joy of salvation.
The context of these readings reveals the importance of spiritual alertness. Revelation's apocalyptic tone serves as a wake-up call to the early Christian communities, addressing their unique challenges. Luke's narrative, set in a bustling town, highlights Jesus's mission to seek the lost, showing how even the most unlikely individuals can experience transformation through faith.
Both readings intertwine the themes of vigilance and conversion. Revelation warns against complacency, while Luke illustrates the transformative power of encountering Christ. Zacchaeus's actions—repaying those he wronged and giving to the poor—demonstrate a genuine response to God's call, mirroring the call to repentance in Revelation.
In our daily lives, these readings remind us to stay spiritually alert and open to change. Just as Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus into his home and life, we are invited to embrace God's transformative power. The moral lesson here is the importance of avoiding spiritual lukewarmness and being receptive to conversion, allowing God's grace to lead us to a life of purpose and joy.
Let us reflect on our own spiritual state, striving to remain vigilant and open to God's call. May we, like Zacchaeus, experience the transformative power of Jesus, leading us to a life of faith, love, and service.