Daily Readings - Fri Sep 26 2025
Revelation
9After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.10And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."11All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,12saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"13Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes--who are they, and where did they come from?"14I answered, "Sir, you know."15And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.16Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.17For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
2 Corinthians
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.13It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak,14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Gospel - Luke 9.23-26 or John 12.24-26
Luke
23Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.24For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.25What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?26If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
John
24I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
Sermon
Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the journey of faith, perseverance, and the ultimate hope that lies before us. In Revelation, we glimpse a glorious vision of the redeemed, a diverse multitude from every nation, standing before the throne of God. They have emerged from great tribulation, their robes washed white by the blood of the Lamb. This passage reminds us that our struggles are not in vain; they prepare us for the eternal life where God will wipe away every tear and lead us to the waters of life. It is a vision of hope, assuring us that our present sufferings are not the end of the story.
In 2 Corinthians, Paul speaks of the paradox of the Christian life. We are fragile, earthen vessels, yet we hold within us the sublime treasure of God’s power. Though we face tribulation, persecution, and suffering, these do not define us. Instead, they reveal the life of Jesus in us. Paul’s words encourage us to embrace our weaknesses, for it is in them that God’s strength shines through. We are called to trust in the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, knowing that our struggles contribute to the greater glory of God.
In the Gospel, Jesus calls us to radical discipleship. Taking up our cross daily means surrendering our will to His, embracing sacrifice, and prioritizing eternal life over worldly comforts. Jesus warns us that to save our lives, we must lose them for His sake. This is not about physical death but about dying to self—letting go of pride, fear, and selfishness. True life is found in following Him, even when the path is difficult. As we navigate the challenges of our own lives, may we remember that our faith is not a shield from suffering but a source of strength to endure it. Let us walk with courage, knowing that our present struggles are but a prelude to the eternal joy that awaits us.