Daily Readings - Thu Jun 26 2025
Genesis
6Abram responded to her by saying, "Behold, your handmaid is in your hand to treat as it pleases you." And so, when Sarai afflicted her, she took flight7And when the Angel of the Lord had found her, near the fountain of water in the wilderness, which is on the way to Shur in the desert8he said to her: "Hagar, handmaid of Sarai, where have you come from? And where will you go?" And she answered, "I flee from the face of Sarai, my mistress.9And the Angel of the Lord said to her, "Return to your mistress, and humble yourself under her hand.10And again he said, "I will multiply your offspring continuously, and they will not be numbered because of their multitude.11But thereafter he said: "Behold, you have conceived, and you will give birth to a son. And you shall call his name Ishmael, because the Lord has heard your affliction12He will be a wild man. His hand will be against all, and all hands will be against him. And he will pitch his tents away from the region of all his brothers.15And Hagar gave birth to a son for Abram, who called his name Ishmael16Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar gave birth to Ishmael for him
Matthew
21Not all who say to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does the will of my Father, who is in heaven, the same shall enter into the kingdom of heaven22Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and perform many powerful deeds in your name?23And then will I disclose to them: ‘I have never known you. Depart from me, you workers of iniquity.24Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and does them shall be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock25And the rains descended, and the floods rose up, and the winds blew, and rushed upon that house, but it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them shall be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand27And the rains descended, and the floods rose up, and the winds blew, and rushed upon that house, and it did fall, and great was its ruin.28And it happened, when Jesus had completed these words, that the crowds were astonished at his doctrine29For he was teaching them as one who has authority, and not like their scribes and Pharisees
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of trust, obedience, and the true nature of faith. In Genesis, we encounter Hagar, a handmaid who faces mistreatment and flees, only to be met by an angel who assures her of God's presence and promises a future for her son, Ishmael. This narrative highlights God's care for the marginalized and the importance of trusting in His providence, even in difficult circumstances. Hagar's story reminds us that God's plans often unfold in unexpected ways, urging us to remain faithful despite life's challenges.
In the Gospel, Jesus emphasizes that merely calling Him Lord is insufficient for entering the kingdom of heaven; it is the doing of God's will that matters. He illustrates this with the parable of the wise and foolish builders, where the wise man builds on rock, symbolizing a life grounded in Jesus' teachings. This parable underscores the necessity of living out our faith through actions, not just words. Jesus' teaching challenges us to examine the foundation of our spiritual lives, ensuring that our actions align with His will.
Both readings encourage us to trust in God's plan and to live out our faith actively. Like Hagar, we may face situations where trust seems difficult, but God remains present. Like the wise builder, we must build our lives on the solid foundation of Jesus' teachings. As we navigate life's challenges, let us remember to trust in God's providence and to live out our faith in obedience to His will, ensuring that our actions reflect our commitment to Him.