Daily Readings - Thu Aug 14 2025
Joshua
7The LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.8And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, 'When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'"9And Joshua said to the people of Israel, "Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God."10And Joshua said, "Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites.11Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan.13And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap."14So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people,15and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest),16the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho.17Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.
Matthew
21Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"22Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.23"Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.24When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.25And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.26So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'27And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.28But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.'29So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.'30He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.31When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place.32Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.33And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?'34And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.35So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."
1Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of trust, obedience, and forgiveness. In the first reading from Joshua, we witness a pivotal moment in the history of God’s people as they prepare to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land. The Lord assures Joshua that He will be with him just as He was with Moses, and He instructs the priests to stand in the river, trusting that the waters will part. This miraculous event is a testament to God’s power and faithfulness, reminding the Israelites—and us—that He is always present, even in moments of uncertainty.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches Peter and the disciples about the boundless nature of forgiveness. Peter asks how many times he should forgive his brother, and Jesus responds with the parable of the unforgiving servant. The servant who is forgiven a great debt but then refuses to forgive a smaller debt is condemned for his lack of compassion. Jesus makes it clear that forgiveness is not optional; it is a fundamental aspect of life in the kingdom of God. Just as God has shown us mercy, we must show mercy to others.
These readings are deeply connected. Both call us to trust in God’s providence and to live out that trust in our relationships with others. Crossing the Jordan required the Israelites to step into the unknown, trusting that God would provide a way. Similarly, forgiving others, especially when it is difficult, requires us to trust that God’s mercy is sufficient and that His grace will transform us. As we navigate the challenges of daily life, let us remember that God is always with us, guiding us and empowering us to live as people of faith and compassion. May we, like Joshua, trust in His presence, and may we, like the forgiven servant, extend mercy to those around us.