Daily Readings - Thu Jun 26 2025
Genesis
6But Abram said to Sarai, "Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please." Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.7The angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur.8And he said, "Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?" She said, "I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai."9The angel of the LORD said to her, "Return to your mistress and submit to her."10The angel of the LORD also said to her, "I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude."11And the angel of the LORD said to her, "Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has listened to your affliction.12He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen."15And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.16Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.
Matthew
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.22On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'23And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'24"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.25And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.27And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."28And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,29for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of trust, obedience, and the true nature of faith. In Genesis, we encounter Hagar, a handmaid who faces mistreatment and flees, only to be met by an angel who assures her of God's presence and promises a future for her son, Ishmael. This narrative highlights God's care for the marginalized and the importance of trusting in His providence, even in difficult circumstances. Hagar's story reminds us that God's plans often unfold in unexpected ways, urging us to remain faithful despite life's challenges.
In the Gospel, Jesus emphasizes that merely calling Him Lord is insufficient for entering the kingdom of heaven; it is the doing of God's will that matters. He illustrates this with the parable of the wise and foolish builders, where the wise man builds on rock, symbolizing a life grounded in Jesus' teachings. This parable underscores the necessity of living out our faith through actions, not just words. Jesus' teaching challenges us to examine the foundation of our spiritual lives, ensuring that our actions align with His will.
Both readings encourage us to trust in God's plan and to live out our faith actively. Like Hagar, we may face situations where trust seems difficult, but God remains present. Like the wise builder, we must build our lives on the solid foundation of Jesus' teachings. As we navigate life's challenges, let us remember to trust in God's providence and to live out our faith in obedience to His will, ensuring that our actions reflect our commitment to Him.