Daily Readings - Mon Sep 08 2025

First Reading - Romans 8.28-30 or Micah 5.2-5a

²⁸And we know that, for those who love God, all things work together unto good, for those who, in accordance with his purpose, are called to be saints²⁹For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined, in conformity with the image of his Son, so that he might be the Firstborn among many brothers³⁰And those whom he predestined, he also called. And those whom he called, he also justified. And those whom he justified, he also glorified

Micah

Chapter 5

²And you, Bethlehem Ephrata, are a little one among the thousands of Judah. From you will go forth he who shall be the ruler in Israel, and his landing place has been set from the beginning, from the days of eternity³Because of this, he will provide for them, even until the time in which she who bears him gives birth. And the remnant of his brothers will be converted to the sons of Israel⁴And he will stand firm and feed on the strength of the Lord, according to the sublime name of the Lord his God. And they will be converted, for now he will be magnified, even to the ends of the earth⁵And this man will be our peace, when the Assyrian will come into our land, and when he will trample on our houses; and we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight principal men

Matthew

Chapter 1

¹⁸Now the procreation of the Christ occurred in this way. After his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they lived together, she was found to have conceived in her womb by the Holy Spirit¹⁹Then Joseph, her husband, since he was just and was not willing to hand her over, preferred to send her away secretly²⁰But while thinking over these things, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to accept Mary as your wife. For what has been formed in her is of the Holy Spirit²¹And she shall give birth to a son. And you shall call his name JESUS. For he shall accomplish the salvation of his people from their sins.²²Now all this occurred in order to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying²³"Behold, a virgin shall conceive in her womb, and she shall give birth to a son. And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which means: God is with us.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound mystery of God’s providence and the call to trust in His plan. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul reminds us that for those who love God, all things work together for good. This is not a simplistic promise that life will always be easy or that suffering will never come, but rather a deep assurance that even in the midst of challenges, God is at work, shaping us into the image of His Son. The Apostle emphasizes the connection between being called, justified, and glorified—each step a part of God’s unfolding plan for our salvation. In the Gospel, we encounter the quiet faith of St. Joseph, a man faced with a situation that could have led to fear, confusion, or even anger. Instead, Joseph chooses to trust in God’s plan, even when it seems unexpected and unconventional. The Angel reassures him, “Do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home,” and Joseph obeys, becoming a key figure in the story of salvation. This passage reminds us that God often works in ways we do not fully understand, but our task is to listen, trust, and respond with obedience. Both readings call us to embrace a spirit of trust and surrender in our daily lives. Like Joseph, we may face moments of uncertainty or difficulty, but we are invited to see these as opportunities to deepen our faith. St. Paul’s words encourage us to view life’s challenges through the lens of God’s providence, knowing that He is always working for our good. Let us strive to imitate Joseph’s quiet courage and trust, allowing God to guide us even when the path ahead seems unclear. In doing so, we open ourselves to the transformative power of His grace, and we become instruments of His plan in the world.