Daily Readings - Sun Nov 29 2020

¹⁶For you are our Father, and Abraham has not known us, and Israel has been ignorant of us. You are our Father, O Lord our Redeemer. Your name is beyond all ages¹⁷Why have you allowed us to stray from your ways, O Lord? Why have you hardened our heart, so that we do not fear you? Return, for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your inheritance

Chapter 64

¹I wish that you would rend the heavens, and then descend! The mountains would flow away before your face³When you will perform miracles, we will not be able to withstand them. You descended, and the mountains flowed away before your presence⁴From ages past, they have not heard it, and they have not perceived it with the ears. Apart from you, O God, the eye has not seen what you have prepared for those who await you⁵You have met with those who rejoice in doing justice. By your ways, they will remember you. Behold, you have been angry, for we have sinned. In this, we have continued, but we will be saved⁶And we have all become like the unclean. And all our justices are like a rag of menstruation. And we have all fallen away, like a leaf. And our iniquities have carried us away, like the wind⁷There is no one who calls upon your name, who rises up and holds fast to you. You have concealed your face from us, and you have crushed us with the hand of our own iniquity⁸And now, O Lord, you are our Father, yet truly, we are clay. And you are our Maker, and we are all the works of your hands

1 Corinthians

Chapter 1

³Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ⁴I give thanks to my God continuously for you because of the grace of God that has been given to you in Christ Jesus⁵By that grace, in all things, you have become wealthy in him, in every word and in all knowledge⁶And so, the testimony of Christ has been strengthened in you⁷In this way, nothing is lacking to you in any grace, as you await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ⁸And he, too, will strengthen you, even until the end, without guilt, until the day of the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ⁹God is faithful. Through him, you have been called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord

Mark

Chapter 13

³³Take heed, be vigilant, and pray. For you do not know when the time may be³⁴It is like a man who, setting out on a sojourn, left behind his house, and gave his servants authority over every work, and instructed the doorkeeper to stand watch³⁵Therefore, be vigilant, for you do not know when the lord of the house may arrive: in the evening, or in the middle of the night, or at first light, or in the morning³⁶Otherwise, when he will have arrived unexpectedly, he may find you sleeping³⁷But what I say to you, I say to all: Be vigilant.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of longing, grace, and vigilance. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear the prophet’s heartfelt cry to God, expressing a deep yearning for divine intervention. The people acknowledge their sinfulness and the ways they have strayed from God’s path, yet they hold onto the hope of redemption. Isaiah reminds us that even in our brokenness, God remains our Father and Maker, and we are His beloved creation. The reading from 1 Corinthians shifts our focus to the grace of God, which has been abundantly poured out in Christ. Paul thanks God for the spiritual gifts bestowed upon the Corinthian community, emphasizing that they lack nothing as they await the return of the Lord. This passage encourages us to trust in God’s faithfulness and to live with gratitude for the blessings we have received. Finally, in the Gospel, Jesus calls us to vigilance. Using the parable of the absent master, He reminds us that we must always be ready, for we do not know when the Lord will return. This teaching challenges us to live with purpose and attentiveness, mindful of our ultimate calling. These readings are deeply connected. Isaiah’s cry for God’s presence and Paul’s thanksgiving for God’s grace both point to the reality of our dependence on God. While Isaiah expresses the pain of separation, Paul highlights the joy of union with Christ. Together, they remind us that our relationship with God is one of both repentance and gratitude. The Gospel then calls us to live this relationship with intentionality. Jesus’ command to “be vigilant” is not about fear but about fidelity. It invites us to stay awake to God’s presence in our lives and to remain prepared to meet Him, whether in the quiet moments of prayer or in the challenges of daily life. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we cultivate vigilance in our lives? It begins with prayer, for prayer keeps us attentive to God’s voice and open to His will. It also requires humility, acknowledging our sinfulness and trusting in God’s mercy. Finally, it demands gratitude, recognizing the grace that has been given to us and living in a way that reflects our thanksgiving. May we, like the Corinthians, be strengthened by God’s faithfulness and remain steadfast as we await the day of the Lord. Let us not grow complacent but instead live each day with purpose, knowing that we are called to be His faithful servants, ready to welcome Him whenever He comes.