Daily Readings - Thu Aug 14 2025
Joshua
7And the Lord said to Joshua: "Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so that they may know that, just as I was with Moses, so also am I with you8Now instruct the priests, who are carrying the ark of the covenant, and say to them, ‘When you will have entered into a part of the water of the Jordan, stand still in it.’ 9And Joshua said to the sons of Israel, "Approach to here, and listen to the word of the Lord your God.10And again, he said: "By this shall you know that the Lord, the living God, is in your midst, and that he shall scatter in your sight, the Canaanite and the Hittite, the Hivite and the Perizzite, likewise the Girgashite, and the Jebusite, and the Amorite11Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth shall go before you through the Jordan13And when the priests who are carrying the ark of the Lord, the God of the entire earth, will have placed the steps of their feet in the waters of the Jordan, the waters that are lower will run down and pass away, and those that are approaching above will stand together in a mass.14And the people departed from their tents, so that they might cross the Jordan. And the priests who were carrying the ark of the covenant were advancing before them15And as soon as they entered into the Jordan, and their feet were dipped in a portion of the water, (now the Jordan, since it was the time of the harvest, had filled the banks of its channel,16the descending waters stood still in one place, and, swelling up like a mountain, they were seen from far away, from the city that is called Adam, even as far as the place of Zarethan. But those that were lower ran down into the Sea of the Wilderness, (which is now called the Dead Sea,) until they entirely passed away17Then the people advanced opposite Jericho. And the priests who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord were standing, fully-dressed, upon dry soil in the midst of the Jordan, and all the people passed over, through the channel that was dried up
Matthew
21Then Peter, drawing near to him, said: "Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Even seven times?22Jesus said to him: "I do not say to you, even seven times, but even seventy times seven times23Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a man who was king, who wanted to take account of his servants24And when he had begun taking account, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents25But since he did not have any way to repay it, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children, and all that he had, in order to repay it26But that servant, falling prostrate, begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay it all to you.27Then the lord of that servant, being moved with pity, released him, and he forgave his debt28But when that servant departed, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarius. And taking hold of him, he choked him, saying: ‘Repay what you owe.29And his fellow servant, falling prostrate, petitioned him, saying: ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay it all to you.30But he was not willing. Instead, he went out and had him sent to prison, until he would repay the debt31Now his fellow servants, seeing what was done, were greatly saddened, and they went and reported to their lord all that was done32Then his lord called him, and he said to him: ‘You wicked servant, I forgave you all your debt, because you pleaded with me33Therefore, should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I also had compassion on you?34And his lord, being angry, handed him over to the torturers, until he repaid the entire debt35So, too, shall my heavenly Father do to you, if each one of you will not forgive his brother from your hearts.
1And it happened that, when Jesus had completed these words, he moved away from Galilee, and he arrived within the borders of Judea, across the Jordan
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of trust, obedience, and forgiveness. In the first reading from Joshua, we witness a pivotal moment in the history of God’s people as they prepare to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land. The Lord assures Joshua that He will be with him just as He was with Moses, and He instructs the priests to stand in the river, trusting that the waters will part. This miraculous event is a testament to God’s power and faithfulness, reminding the Israelites—and us—that He is always present, even in moments of uncertainty.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches Peter and the disciples about the boundless nature of forgiveness. Peter asks how many times he should forgive his brother, and Jesus responds with the parable of the unforgiving servant. The servant who is forgiven a great debt but then refuses to forgive a smaller debt is condemned for his lack of compassion. Jesus makes it clear that forgiveness is not optional; it is a fundamental aspect of life in the kingdom of God. Just as God has shown us mercy, we must show mercy to others.
These readings are deeply connected. Both call us to trust in God’s providence and to live out that trust in our relationships with others. Crossing the Jordan required the Israelites to step into the unknown, trusting that God would provide a way. Similarly, forgiving others, especially when it is difficult, requires us to trust that God’s mercy is sufficient and that His grace will transform us. As we navigate the challenges of daily life, let us remember that God is always with us, guiding us and empowering us to live as people of faith and compassion. May we, like Joshua, trust in His presence, and may we, like the forgiven servant, extend mercy to those around us.