Daily Readings - Tue Nov 22 2022
Revelation
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.
Luke
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
In today's readings, we encounter vivid imagery from Revelation and Luke, both pointing us toward reflections on the end times and our preparedness. The first reading from Revelation presents a vision of the Son of Man reaping the earth's harvest with a sharp sickle, accompanied by angels who harvest grapes and cast them into God's wrath. This apocalyptic scene symbolizes God's judgment and the final reckoning, urging us to consider our spiritual readiness.
In the Gospel, Luke describes Jesus prophesying the destruction of the temple, a historical event that occurred in 70 AD. Jesus warns against false messiahs and impending disasters, emphasizing that the end is not immediate but will be preceded by turmoil. Both readings, while distinct, share a common theme of preparedness and faithfulness amidst uncertainty.
As we reflect on these passages, we are reminded to stay vigilant and rooted in our faith. In our daily lives, we should avoid complacency and false teachings, instead nurturing our relationship with God and living virtuously. The moral lesson here is clear: trust in God's plan, remain faithful, and be prepared for the unexpected. Let us focus on eternal life, looking beyond earthly concerns to the promise of everlasting peace with God.