Daily Readings - Sun Nov 30 2025
Isaiah
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
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
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
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.