Hope Breaking In

Date: Sunday, November 30, 2025 – First Sunday of Advent

Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5 | Psalm 122 | Romans 13:11-14 | Matthew 24:36-44

Advent opens with a jolt as Matthew confronts us with the unsettling truth that we do not control the timetable of God. Jesus’ words carry an edge that cuts through our curated routines and digital distractions: be awake, be ready, because God’s future is already pressing into the present. Isaiah 2 expands the vision, drawing our eyes toward a world reshaped by God’s justice, where nations unlearn war and walk in the light. Romans 13 echoes the call: wake up, because night is fading and dawn is already on the horizon.

The arrival of Jesus refuses to let us wait passively. It asks us to live with urgency, not anxiety, because God’s kingdom is not a theory but a movement breaking in right now. In an age numbed by doomscrolling and constant crisis, Jesus’ invitation is countercultural: stay alert to grace, love fiercely, act justly, and refuse to drift into spiritual autopilot. He calls us to live as people who expect God to interrupt history and our own lives with redemption.

This kind of readiness is not fear-driven. It’s a posture of hope. It’s the awareness that Christ meets us in the ordinary; at work, in conflict, while filling the dishwasher, or while sitting with someone who needs compassion. Advent readiness means living as if God’s light is already leaking into the cracks of our world, because it is.

Devotional Prompts:

• Where do you sense God calling you to wake up spiritually?
• How does the warning of Matthew 24 challenge your daily rhythms?
• What practices help you stay alert to God’s presence?
• Where do you see “dawn” breaking in your life or community?

Prayer:
God of dawning light, awaken our hearts to your coming. Break through our complacency and teach us to live with holy expectation. Strengthen us to walk in your light and welcome the hope you are bringing into the world.