Daily Readings - Tue Aug 12 2025
Deuteronomy
1And so, Moses went out, and he spoke all these words to all of Israel2And he said to them: "Today, I am one hundred and twenty years old. I am no longer able to go out and return, especially since the Lord has also said to me, ‘You shall not cross this Jordan.3Therefore, the Lord your God will go across before you. He himself will abolish all these nations in your sight, and you shall possess them. And this man Joshua shall go across before you, just as the Lord has spoken4And the Lord will do to them just as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, and he will wipe them away5Therefore, when the Lord will have delivered these to you also, you shall act similarly toward them, just as I have instructed you6Act manfully and be strengthened. Do not be afraid, and do not dread at the sight of them. For the Lord your God himself is your commander, and he will neither dismiss nor abandon you.7And Moses called Joshua, and, before all of Israel, he said to him: ‘Be strong and valiant. For you shall lead this people into the land which the Lord swore that he would give to their fathers, and you shall divide it by lot8And the Lord, who is your commander, will himself be with you. He will neither renounce nor abandon you. Do not be afraid, and do not dread.
Matthew
1In that hour, the disciples drew near to Jesus, saying, "Whom do you consider to be greater in the kingdom of heaven?2And Jesus, calling to himself a little child, placed him in their midst3And he said: "Amen I say to you, unless you change and become like little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven4Therefore, whoever will have humbled himself like this little child, such a one is greater in the kingdom of heaven5And whoever shall accept one such little child in my name, accepts me10See to it that you do not despise even one of these little ones. For I say to you, that their Angels in heaven continually look upon the face of my Father, who is in heaven12How does it seem to you? If someone has one hundred sheep, and if one of them has gone astray, should he not leave behind the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go out to seek what has gone astray13And if he should happen to find it: Amen I say to you, that he has more joy over that one, than over the ninety-nine which did not go astray14Even so, it is not the will before your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should be lost
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on trust in God’s providence and the call to humility and care for one another. In the first reading from Deuteronomy, Moses, nearing the end of his life, hands over leadership to Joshua. Moses assures the people that God will go before them, fight their battles, and remain faithful even when the challenges seem insurmountable. This passage reminds us that our strength comes not from ourselves but from the Lord, who is always with us, even in uncertain times. Moses’ words to Joshua—“Be strong and valiant”—are not just a personal encouragement but a reminder of God’s constant presence and guidance.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches the disciples about the importance of humility and the care we must show to the vulnerable. Using the image of a child, Jesus emphasizes that to enter the kingdom of heaven, we must become like little ones—humble, trusting, and open to God’s grace. He also warns against despising or neglecting those who are small or weak, reminding us that each person is precious in God’s eyes. The parable of the lost sheep reinforces this message, showing that God’s love is not just for the many but also for the one who is lost. Jesus’ teaching challenges us to examine how we treat others, especially those who may feel overlooked or marginalized.
These readings call us to live with faith and compassion. Like Joshua, we are invited to trust in God’s presence and guidance, even when the path ahead seems difficult. Like the disciples, we are reminded to approach life with humility and to care for one another, especially those who are most in need. Let us ask ourselves: Do we trust in God’s providence, even when things seem uncertain? Do we treat others with the dignity and love they deserve? May we strive to live as people of faith, trusting in God’s plan and reflecting His love in our interactions with the world around us.