Daily Readings - Sun Dec 01 2019

¹The word that Isaiah, the son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem²And in the last days, the mountain of the house of the Lord will be prepared at the summit of the mountains, and it will be exalted above the hills, and all the nations shall flow to it³And many peoples will go, and they will say: "Let us approach and ascend to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob. And he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths." For the law will go forth from Zion, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem⁴And he will judge the nations, and he will rebuke many peoples. And they shall forge their swords into plowshares, and their spears into sickles. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they continue to train for battle⁵O house of Jacob, let us approach and walk in the light of the Lord

Romans

Chapter 13

¹¹And we know the present time, that now is the hour for us to rise up from sleep. For already our salvation is closer than when we first believed¹²The night has passed, and the day draws near. Therefore, let us cast aside the works of darkness, and be clothed with the armor of light¹³Let us walk honestly, as in the daylight, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and sexual immorality, not in contention and envy¹⁴Instead, be clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in its desires

Matthew

Chapter 24

³⁷And just as in the days of Noah, so also will be the advent of the Son of man³⁸For it will be just as it was in the days before the flood: eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, even until that day when Noah entered into the ark³⁹And they did not realize it, until the flood came and took them all away. So also will the advent of the Son of man be⁴⁰Then two men will be in a field: one will be taken up, and one will be left behind⁴¹Two women will be grinding at a millstone: one will be taken up, and one will be left behind⁴²Therefore, be vigilant. For you do not know at what hour your Lord will return⁴³But know this: if only the father of the family knew at what hour the thief would arrive, he would certainly keep vigil and not permit his house to be broken into⁴⁴For this reason, you also must be prepared, for you do not know at what hour the Son of man will return

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of readiness, peace, and living in accordance with God's will. In Isaiah, we are presented with a vision of a harmonious future where all nations gather at the mountain of the Lord, and warfare is transformed into agriculture, symbolizing peace. This vision is set against the backdrop of Judah and Jerusalem, offering hope for a messianic era. In Romans, Paul urges believers to awaken from spiritual slumber, emphasizing the nearness of salvation and the importance of living honorably, free from sin, and clothed in Christ. The Gospel from Matthew, part of the Olivet Discourse, highlights the unexpected nature of Christ's Second Coming, drawing parallels to the days of Noah and stressing the need for vigilance. These readings are interconnected by the common thread of preparation and righteous living. Isaiah's vision inspires us to strive for a world where God's law prevails, bringing peace. Romans provides practical advice on moral living, encouraging us to shed sinful behaviors and embrace Christ. Matthew's passage underscores the urgency of being prepared for Christ's return, much like being vigilant against a thief. Together, they remind us that our spiritual readiness is paramount. In our daily lives, this means embracing a life of purpose and virtue, avoiding complacency and sin. We are called to live with the awareness that Christ could return at any moment, prompting us to stay spiritually alert and committed to His teachings. The moral lesson here is clear: live righteously, remain vigilant, and trust in God's plan. By doing so, we not only prepare for the future but also contribute to a more peaceful and just world today.