Daily Readings - Sun Nov 30 2025
Isaiah
1The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.2It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,3and many peoples shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.4He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.5O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD.
Romans
11Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.12The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.13Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Matthew
37As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.38For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,39and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.40Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.41Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.42Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.43But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.44Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of preparedness, peace, and living in the light of God’s presence. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vision of a future where all nations come together in harmony, beating their swords into plowshares and living under the Lord’s guidance. This passage, written during a time of turmoil and division in Israel, offers hope for a messianic age where God’s law and peace reign supreme. The second reading from Romans urges us to awaken from spiritual slumber, casting aside the works of darkness and living virtuously as children of the light. This exhortation is rooted in the early Christian community’s expectation of Christ’s imminent return, calling believers to live with integrity and self-control. Finally, the Gospel from Matthew reminds us of the suddenness of the Lord’s coming, using the example of Noah’s flood to emphasize the importance of vigilance and readiness.
These readings are interconnected by the thread of preparation and living with purpose. Isaiah’s vision of peace challenges us to work toward a world where conflict is replaced by cooperation and mutual respect. Romans calls us to live in a way that reflects our identity as followers of Christ, rejecting sin and embracing holiness. Matthew’s warning about the unexpected nature of the Lord’s return ties these together, reminding us that our efforts to live justly and peacefully must be grounded in a deep spiritual readiness. Each reading encourages us to evaluate how we are living in the present, with an eye toward the future and the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Am I working toward peace in my relationships and community? Am I living with integrity, rejecting the “works of darkness” in my own life? Am I prepared to meet the Lord, whether he comes in a moment of crisis or at the end of my days? The moral lesson here is clear: we are called to live each day with purpose, striving to be instruments of peace and light in a world that often seems consumed by division and darkness. May we embrace this call with renewed commitment, trusting in God’s promise to guide us and strengthen us as we walk in his ways.