Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 26, 2022
First Reading: Revelation 22.1-7
1And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.2In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.3And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:4And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.5And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.6And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.7Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
Psalm 95
1O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.2Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.3For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.4In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.5The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.6O 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. To day if ye will hear his voice,8Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:9When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.10Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:11Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.
Gospel: Luke 21.34-36
34And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.36Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, 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.