Daily Mass Readings – Saturday, 2 December 2028

1 And he shewed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

2 In the midst of the street thereof, and on both sides of the river, was the tree of life, bearing twelve fruits, yielding its fruits every month, and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

3 And there shall be no curse any more; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall serve him.

4 And they shall see his face: and his name shall be on their foreheads.

5 And night shall be no more: and they shall not need the light of the lamp, nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall enlighten them, and they shall reign for ever and ever.

6 And he said to me: These words are most faithful and true. And the Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel to shew his servants the things which must be done shortly.

7 And, Behold I come quickly. Blessed is he that keepeth the words of the prophecy of this book.

R. (1 Cor 16: 22b, Rev. 22: 20c) Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!

1 Come let us praise the Lord with joy: let us joyfully sing to God our saviour.

2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; and make a joyful noise to him with psalms.

R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!

3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

4 For in his hand are all the ends of the earth: and the heights of the mountains are his.

5 For the sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.

R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!

6 Come let us adore and fall down: and weep before the Lord that made us.

7 For he is the Lord our God: and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.

R. Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

36 Be vigilant at all times and pray that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

34 And take heed to yourselves, lest perhaps your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly.

35 For as a snare shall it come upon all that sit upon the face of the whole earth.

36 Watch ye, therefore, praying at all times, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that are to come, and to stand before the Son of man.

Scripture places the promise of Christ’s coming before us with both joy and seriousness. The Lord is coming, and his presence will bring the fullness of life: the river flowing from God and the Lamb, the tree whose leaves heal the nations, the end of every curse, and the light of God that never fades. This is the destiny toward which God’s people are moving.

Yet Jesus warns that the heart can become weighed down by excess and by the cares of this life. Readiness is therefore more than knowing that the Lord will come. It means keeping the heart awake through prayer, worship, gratitude, and faithful attention to God’s word. The psalm gives us a simple posture for this waiting: joyful praise, thanksgiving, adoration, and humble recognition that we are the sheep of his hand. “Come, Lord Jesus” is not a fearful cry for those who belong to him; it is the prayer of a people longing to see God’s face. Today, even amid ordinary concerns, we can pause and turn our attention toward that promise.

Lord Jesus, keep my heart awake for your coming. When the cares of life begin to crowd out your presence, draw me back through prayer and trust. Free me from whatever dulls my love or makes me forget your promise of life and healing. Teach me to praise you with gratitude, to adore you with humility, and to remain faithful to your word. Let my hope in seeing your face shape the way I live today. May I await you with confidence and joy, joining the Church’s prayer: Marana tha, come, Lord Jesus. Amen.