Daily Readings - Sat Nov 26 2022
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
The first reading from Revelation paints a vivid picture of eternal life, where the river of life flows from God’s throne, and the Tree of Life bears fruit for the healing of the nations. This vision is a glimpse of the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise—a world free from suffering and death, where God’s presence is unmediated, and His people live in perpetual light and joy. The reading reminds us that this is not just a distant hope but a reality that will come to pass soon, as the Lord declares, “Behold, I am coming quickly.”
In the Gospel, Jesus warns us to stay vigilant and not let our hearts become weighed down by the distractions and cares of this world. He urges us to pray always so that we may be found worthy to stand before the Son of Man when He comes. This passage is part of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse, where He prepares His disciples for His eventual return and the challenges that will precede it. The key here is balance: while we must engage with the world, we must not let it consume us. Our ultimate allegiance is to God, and our hearts must remain focused on Him.
Both readings call us to live with hope and preparedness. Revelation shows us the destination—eternal life in God’s presence—while Luke’s Gospel reminds us how to get there: by staying vigilant, prayerful, and detached from the allurements of the world. In our daily lives, this means prioritizing our relationship with God, seeking His will in all things, and trusting in His promise to bring us to the fullness of life. Let us strive to live in such a way that we are always ready to meet the Lord, whether He comes to us in death or at the end of time.