Daily Readings - Sun Sep 07 2025

¹³For who among men can know the counsel of God? Or who can imagine the will of God¹⁴For the thoughts of mortals are timid, and our foresight is uncertain¹⁵For the corruptible body weighs down the soul, and this earthy dwelling presses many thoughts upon the mind¹⁶And we assess with difficulty the things that are of earth, and we discover with labor the things that are within our view. So who will search out the things that are in heaven¹⁷Moreover, who will know your mind, unless you give wisdom and send your holy spirit from on high¹⁸And in this way, those who are on earth are corrected in their path, and men learn the things that are pleasing to you

Philemon

Chapter 1

⁹but I beg you instead, for the sake of charity, since you are so much like Paul: an old man and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ¹⁰I beg you, on behalf of my son, whom I have begotten in my chains, Onesimus¹²So I have sent him back to you. And may you receive him like my own heart¹³I myself wanted to retain him with me, so that he might minister to me, on your behalf, while I am in the chains of the Gospel¹⁴But I was willing to do nothing without your counsel, so as not to make use of your good deed as if out of necessity, but only willingly¹⁵So perhaps, then, he departed from you for a time, so that you might receive him again for eternity¹⁶no longer as a servant, but, in place of a servant, a most beloved brother, especially to me: but how much so more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord¹⁷Therefore, if you hold me to be a companion, receive him as you would me

Luke

Chapter 14

²⁵Now great crowds traveled with him. And turning around, he said to them²⁶"If anyone comes to me, and does not hate his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, and yes, even his own life, he is not able to be my disciple²⁷And whoever does not bear his cross and come after me, is not able to be my disciple²⁸For who among you, wanting to build a tower, would not first sit down and determine the costs that are required, to see if he has the means to complete it²⁹Otherwise, after he will have laid the foundation and not been able to finish it, everyone who sees it may begin to mock him³⁰saying: ‘This man began to build what he was not able to finish.³¹Or, what king, advancing to engage in war against another king, would not first sit down and consider whether he may be able, with ten thousand, to meet one who comes against him with twenty thousand³²If not, then while the other is still far away, sending a delegation, he would ask him for terms of peace³³Therefore, everyone of you who does not renounce all that he possesses is not able to be my disciple

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the nature of discipleship and our relationship with God. The first reading from the Book of Wisdom reminds us of the limitations of human understanding and the need for divine wisdom. It highlights our inability to fully grasp God’s plans without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This humbles us, acknowledging that our perceptions and foresight are incomplete, and that true wisdom comes from above. The second reading from the Letter to Philemon offers a powerful example of reconciliation and compassion. Paul appeals to Philemon to welcome Onesimus, a former slave, as a brother in Christ. This reading challenges us to see others through the eyes of God, valuing spiritual bonds over worldly relationships. It calls us to live out our faith in practical ways, prioritizing love and forgiveness. In the Gospel, Jesus presents a radical challenge: to follow Him, we must be willing to let go of everything, even our closest relationships and possessions. This is not about hating our loved ones, but about recognizing that our ultimate allegiance is to God. Jesus uses the parables of the tower builder and the king going to war to emphasize the need for discernment and commitment. True discipleship requires us to count the cost and be willing to carry our cross daily. These readings remind us that following Christ is not a part-time endeavor but a total commitment. They call us to humility, compassion, and radical trust in God. As we navigate our daily lives, let us ask for the wisdom to see beyond our limitations, the grace to love as God loves, and the courage to embrace the challenges of discipleship with faith and perseverance.