Daily Readings - Sun Nov 27 2022

¹This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:²In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.³Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.⁴He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.⁵Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.

Romans

Chapter 13

¹¹And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.¹²The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.¹³Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.¹⁴Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Matthew

Chapter 24

³⁷As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.³⁸For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;³⁹and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.⁴⁰Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.⁴¹Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.⁴²"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.⁴³But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.⁴⁴So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of preparation, vigilance, and the ultimate hope of God’s kingdom. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a vision of a future where all nations stream to the mountain of the Lord, where swords are beaten into plowshares and peace reigns. This is not just a distant dream but a call to live in a way that anticipates and reflects this reality. Isaiah’s prophecy reminds us that God’s plan is one of unity and harmony, and we are called to walk in the light of the Lord. The second reading from Romans and the Gospel of Matthew amplify this call to readiness. Paul urges us to cast aside the works of darkness and live as children of the light, for our salvation is near. Jesus, in Matthew’s Gospel, warns us to stay vigilant, comparing the coming of the Son of Man to the days of Noah—when people were caught off guard by the flood. Just as Noah was prepared, we too must be prepared for the Lord’s return. This is not about fear but about living with purpose and intentionality, trusting that God’s timing is perfect. These readings remind us that our daily lives are an opportunity to reflect God’s kingdom. We are called to live honestly, to love without envy or contention, and to be clothed in Christ. In a world often marked by division and conflict, we are to be signs of hope, living in a way that anticipates the peace and unity God promises. Let us approach each day with gratitude and vigilance, knowing that we are not only preparing for the future but also living out the kingdom of God in the present.