Daily Readings - Sun Dec 01 2024

¹⁴"'The days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.¹⁵"'In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David's line; he will do what is just and right in the land.¹⁶In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.'

1 Thessalonians

Chapter 3

¹²May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.¹³May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

Chapter 4

¹Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.²For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

Luke

Chapter 21

²⁵"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.²⁶Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.²⁷At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.²⁸When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."³⁴"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.³⁵For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth.³⁶Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are presented with a tapestry of hope, preparation, and the call to live justly. The prophet Jeremiah speaks of a future where God’s promise of justice and restoration is fulfilled through a leader from David’s line, a prophecy realized in Jesus Christ. This message, born out of the hope during the Babylonian exile, reminds us of God’s faithfulness and the ultimate restoration He promises. The second reading from Thessalonians encourages believers to abound in love and live blamelessly, preparing for the Lord’s return. Paul’s words resonate with the early Christian communities, emphasizing ethical living and readiness for Christ’s coming. This ties seamlessly into the Gospel, where Jesus describes the signs of the end times and urges His disciples to remain vigilant and prayerful, not to be swayed by worldly distractions. These readings weave together the themes of hope, justice, and preparation. Jeremiah’s prophecy finds its fulfillment in Jesus, who embodies justice and restoration. Thessalonians calls us to live in love and readiness, while the Gospel warns against complacency, encouraging us to stay alert and focused on our faith. As we navigate our daily lives, let us embrace this call to live with purpose, trusting in God’s plan and maintaining hope in His promises. May we stay vigilant, grounded in love and justice, ever-ready to stand before the Son of Man.