Daily Readings - Sun Oct 26 2025

¹⁵And do not be willing to consider an unjust sacrifice. For the Lord is the judge, and with him there is no favoritism toward anyone¹⁶The Lord will not accept favoritism against the poor, but he will heed the prayer of one who has been harmed¹⁷He will not despise the prayers of the orphan, nor of the widow, if she utters a lamenting complaint²⁰Whoever adores God with joy will be accepted, and his prayer will reach even to the clouds²¹The prayer of one who humbles himself will pierce the clouds. And it will not be consoled until it draws near; and it will not withdraw until the Most High beholds²²And the Lord will not delay, and he will judge for those who are just, and he will accomplish judgment. And the Almighty will not have patience with them, so that he may crush their back

2 Timothy

Chapter 4

⁶For I am already being worn away, and the time of my dissolution presses close⁷I have fought the good fight. I have completed the course. I have preserved the faith⁸As for the remainder, a crown of justice has been reserved for me, one which the Lord, the just judge, will render to me in that day, and not only to me, but also to those who look forward to his return. Hurry to return to me soon¹⁶At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them¹⁷But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the preaching would be accomplished, and so that all the Gentiles would hear. And I was freed from the mouth of the lion¹⁸The Lord has freed me from every evil work, and he will accomplish salvation by his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen

Luke

Chapter 18

⁹Now about certain persons who consider themselves to be just, while disdaining others, he told also this parable¹⁰"Two men ascended to the temple, in order to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector¹¹Standing, the Pharisee prayed within himself in this way: ‘O God, I give thanks to you that I am not like the rest of men: robbers, unjust, adulterers, even as this tax collector chooses to be¹²I fast twice between Sabbaths. I give tithes from all that I possess.¹³And the tax collector, standing at a distance, was not willing to even lift up his eyes to heaven. But he struck his chest, saying: ‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.¹⁴I say to you, this one descended to his house justified, but not the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled; and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of humility, justice, and trust in God’s providence. In the first reading from Sirach, we are reminded that God is a just judge who does not show favoritism. He hears the prayers of the oppressed, the orphan, and the widow, and he will not delay in bringing justice to those who are faithful. This passage emphasizes that true worship is not about outward appearances but about a humble and contrite heart. The second reading from 2 Timothy shares a similar tone of trust and perseverance. Paul, facing the end of his life, expresses confidence in God’s deliverance and the ultimate triumph of justice. He acknowledges the challenges and betrayals he has faced but finds strength in God’s faithfulness. The Gospel from Luke provides a vivid contrast between pride and humility through the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee, confident in his own righteousness, looks down on others, while the tax collector, aware of his sinfulness, humbly asks for mercy. Jesus makes it clear that it is the humble who are justified, not those who exalt themselves. Together, these readings remind us that our relationship with God is not about comparing ourselves to others or relying on our own efforts, but about surrendering to God’s justice and mercy with humility. In our daily lives, these readings challenge us to examine our attitudes and actions. Do we approach God with the humility of the tax collector, acknowledging our shortcomings and trusting in his mercy? Or do we, like the Pharisee, judge ourselves by the standards of others and forget our own need for grace? Let us learn to trust in God’s justice, knowing that he hears the cries of the oppressed and strengthens those who are persecuted. May we cultivate humility in our prayers and in our interactions with others, remembering that true righteousness is not about self-justification but about surrendering to God’s will.