Daily Readings - Sun Dec 03 2023

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

In today's readings, we are presented with themes of longing, grace, and vigilance. The First Reading from Isaiah expresses the Israelites' sense of abandonment and their plea for God's return, reflecting on their sins and yearning for His presence. The Second Reading from 1 Corinthians offers a message of thanksgiving and reassurance, highlighting the grace and strength provided through Christ, and the faithfulness of God. The Gospel from Mark calls us to vigilance and prayer, urging us to stay alert for the Lord's return, much like a watchful doorkeeper. The context of these readings reveals deeper connections. Isaiah's plea is set against the backdrop of the Babylonian exile, where the Israelites grapple with their sins and separation from God. Paul's letter to the Corinthians is a pastoral encouragement, reinforcing their faith and the assurance of God's grace. Mark's Gospel, part of the Olivet Discourse, prepares the disciples for Jesus' departure and the challenges ahead. Together, these readings weave a narrative of trust in God's faithfulness amidst trials. Applying these teachings to daily life, we are reminded of the importance of maintaining a strong spiritual life through prayer and vigilance. Just as the doorkeeper in Mark's Gospel is to stay watchful, we should remain attentive to God's presence and guidance. Recognizing our own shortcomings, as in Isaiah, encourages us to seek forgiveness and renewal. The moral lesson here is one of trust and grace—despite our weaknesses, God remains faithful, providing the strength we need. We are called to stay alert and prayerful, trusting in God's plan and grace.