Daily Readings - Tue Nov 19 2024
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
The readings today offer a powerful reminder of the call to spiritual vigilance and the transformative power of repentance. In the first reading from Revelation, Jesus speaks to the Churches of Sardis and Laodicea, urging them to awaken from their spiritual complacency. To Sardis, he warns that having a reputation for being alive does not necessarily mean they are truly living in faith. To Laodicea, he condemns their lukewarmness, calling them to repentance and a deeper relationship with him. These words are not just for the early Christian communities but are a timeless call to us today to examine our own spiritual state and to strive for a vibrant, living faith.
The Gospel from Luke provides a beautiful example of what this transformative repentance looks like. Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector, is moved by Jesus’ presence to make radical changes in his life. Though shunned by society for his role as a tax collector, Zacchaeus’ desire to see Jesus leads him to climb a tree, and ultimately, to welcome Jesus into his home. Jesus’ presence sparks Zacchaeus’ repentance, and he commits to giving half his goods to the poor and repaying fourfold anyone he has cheated. This story shows that true repentance is not just feeling sorry for sin but actively turning away from sin and living in a way that reflects God’s justice and mercy.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives. Are we spiritually lukewarm, going through the motions of faith without a deep connection to Christ? Or are we like Zacchaeus, willing to take bold steps to encounter Jesus and allow him to transform our lives? Jesus stands at the door of our hearts and knocks, inviting us to open ourselves to his presence. Let us respond by seeking him with humility, repenting of our sins, and living in a way that reflects the love and justice of God. May we, like Zacchaeus, experience the joy of salvation and share it with others.