Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 26, 2022
First Reading: Revelation 22.1-7
1Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb2through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.3No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.4They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.5And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.6And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place."7"And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
Psalm 95
1Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!2Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!3For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.4In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.5The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.6Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!7For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice,8do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,9when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.10For forty years I loathed that generation and said, "They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways."11Therefore I swore in my wrath, "They shall not enter my rest."
Gospel: Luke 21.34-36
34"But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.35For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.36But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
Sermon
The first reading from Revelation paints a vivid picture of eternal life, where the river of life flows from God’s throne, and the Tree of Life bears fruit for the healing of the nations. This vision is a glimpse of the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise—a world free from suffering and death, where God’s presence is unmediated, and His people live in perpetual light and joy. The reading reminds us that this is not just a distant hope but a reality that will come to pass soon, as the Lord declares, “Behold, I am coming quickly.”
In the Gospel, Jesus warns us to stay vigilant and not let our hearts become weighed down by the distractions and cares of this world. He urges us to pray always so that we may be found worthy to stand before the Son of Man when He comes. This passage is part of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse, where He prepares His disciples for His eventual return and the challenges that will precede it. The key here is balance: while we must engage with the world, we must not let it consume us. Our ultimate allegiance is to God, and our hearts must remain focused on Him.
Both readings call us to live with hope and preparedness. Revelation shows us the destination—eternal life in God’s presence—while Luke’s Gospel reminds us how to get there: by staying vigilant, prayerful, and detached from the allurements of the world. In our daily lives, this means prioritizing our relationship with God, seeking His will in all things, and trusting in His promise to bring us to the fullness of life. Let us strive to live in such a way that we are always ready to meet the Lord, whether He comes to us in death or at the end of time.