Daily Readings - Fri Sep 12 2025
1 Timothy
1Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the authority of God our Savior and Christ Jesus our hope2to Timothy, beloved son in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord12I give thanks to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he has considered me faithful, placing me in the ministry13though previously I was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and contemptuous. But then I obtained the mercy of God. For I had been acting ignorantly, in unbelief14And so the grace of our Lord has abounded greatly, with the faith and love that is in Christ Jesus
Luke
39Now he told them another comparison: "How can the blind lead the blind? Would they not both fall into a pit40The disciple is not above his teacher. But each one will be perfected, if he is like his teacher41And why do you see the straw that is in your brother’s eye, while the log that is in your own eye, you do not consider42Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, allow me to remove the straw from your eye,’ while you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? Hypocrite, first remove the log from your own eye, and then will you see clearly, so that you may lead out the straw from your brother’s eye
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about transformation, humility, and the call to live out our faith with integrity. The first reading from 1 Timothy finds Paul expressing deep gratitude to God for the mercy and grace he has received. Despite his past as a blasphemer and persecutor of the Church, Paul humbly acknowledges that God’s grace has transformed him, enabling him to serve as a minister of the Gospel. This passage reminds us that none of us are beyond the reach of God’s mercy and that our past does not define us when we turn to Him with faith and repentance.
The Gospel from Luke complements this message with Jesus’ teachings on humility and self-awareness. Using the vivid parable of the blind leading the blind, Jesus warns against the dangers of hypocrisy and the importance of examining our own lives before judging others. He challenges us to recognize the "plank" in our own eye before trying to remove the "straw" from our brother’s eye. This is not a call to ignore the faults of others but rather to approach them with humility and honesty, first acknowledging our own need for conversion and growth.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives and relationships. Like Paul, we are called to embrace God’s mercy and allow it to transform us. Like Jesus teaches, we must approach others with compassion and humility, recognizing that we are all in need of grace. In our daily lives, this means being honest about our own shortcomings, seeking forgiveness, and striving to grow in holiness. It also means approaching others with kindness and patience, rather than judgment. Let us ask for the grace to see ourselves as we truly are and to live with the humility and love that God calls us to.