Daily Readings - Mon Jun 23 2025
Genesis
1Then the Lord said to Abram: "Depart from your land, and from your kindred, and from your father’s house, and come into the land that I will show you2And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and magnify your name, and you will be blessed3I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you, and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.4And so Abram departed just as the Lord had instructed him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran5And he took his wife Sarai, and Lot, the son of his brother, and all the substance which they had come to possess, and the lives which they had acquired in Haran, and they departed in order to go to the land of Canaan. And when they arrived in it6Abram passed through the land even to the place of Shechem, as far as the famous steep valley. Now at that time, the Canaanite was in the land7Then the Lord appeared to Abram, and he said to him, "To your offspring, I will give this land." And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him8And passing on from there to a mountain, which was opposite the east of Bethel, he pitched his tent there, having Bethel to the west, and Hai on the east. He also built an altar there to the Lord, and he called upon his name9And Abram traveled, going out and continuing further on, toward the south
Matthew
1"Do not judge, so that you may not be judged2For with whatever judgment you judge, so shall you be judged; and with whatever measure you measure out, so shall it be measured back to you3And how can you see the splinter in your brother’s eye, and not see the board in your own eye4Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the splinter from your eye,’ while, behold, a board is in your own eye5Hypocrite, first remove the board from your own eye, and then you will see clearly enough to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons from Scripture that guide us in our spiritual journey. The first reading from Genesis 12:1-9 tells the story of Abram, who exemplifies unwavering faith and trust in God. Abram is called to leave behind the familiar—his land, family, and home—for a promise of a new land and a great nation. This journey is not just physical but deeply spiritual, as Abram's obedience and trust in God's promise lay the foundation for his faith. When Abram arrives in Canaan, God reaffirms His promise, and Abram responds by building altars, symbolizing his worship and gratitude.
The Gospel reading from Matthew 7:1-5 shifts our focus to Jesus' teachings on humility and self-reflection. Jesus warns against judging others, emphasizing that we will be judged by the same standards we use on others. The metaphor of the splinter and the plank vividly illustrates the need for self-awareness and humility. Jesus encourages us to first examine our own actions and attitudes before attempting to correct others, fostering a spirit of compassion and understanding.
These readings connect through the themes of trust and humility. Abram's trust in God's promise leads him to a life of obedience and worship, while Jesus' teaching calls us to humility in our interactions with others. Together, they remind us to trust in God's plan and to approach others with compassion and self-awareness. As we navigate our daily lives, let us strive to emulate Abram's faith and Jesus' humility, allowing these virtues to guide our relationships and decisions, leading us closer to God and to each other.