Daily Readings - Sun Oct 19 2025
Exodus
8Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim.9So Moses said to Joshua, "Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand."10So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.11Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.12But Moses' hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.13And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.
2 Timothy
14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it15and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.16All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,17that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
Luke
1And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.2He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man.3And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.'4For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man,5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'"6And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says.7And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?8I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the importance of perseverance and trust in God’s providence, even in the face of challenges. In the first reading from Exodus, Moses leads the Israelites in battle against Amalek. Though Moses’ raised hands symbolize prayer and trust in God, his human weakness sets in, and he grows tired. It is only through the support of Aaron and Hur that he can continue, showing us that our faith is not a solitary act but one sustained by community and mutual support. The victory over Amalek is not just a military triumph but a spiritual one, demonstrating that God’s power works through our efforts and our reliance on Him.
The second reading from 2 Timothy emphasizes the importance of remaining faithful to the teachings of Scripture. St. Paul reminds Timothy that the Sacred Scriptures are our guide for salvation and that they equip us for every good work. This reading encourages us to stay rooted in the Word of God, even when the world around us seems uncertain or hostile. It also reminds us of the responsibility to share the Gospel with urgency and patience, trusting in God’s plan to bring about His kingdom.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow, teaching us about the necessity of prayer and trust in God’s justice. The unjust judge, who neither fears God nor respects man, is moved to act simply because the widow’s persistence wears him down. Jesus contrasts this with God, who is just and loving, promising that He will vindicate His elect who cry out to Him day and night. Yet, the parable ends with a haunting question: will faith still be found on earth when the Son of Man returns? This challenges us to examine our own commitment to prayer and our trust in God’s timing.
These readings call us to live with perseverance and faith. Like Moses, we may grow weary, but we are not alone—God provides us with the support of others and the strength of His Word. Like the widow, we must persist in prayer, trusting that God hears us and will act in His time. And like Timothy, we are called to remain faithful to the teachings of Scripture and to share the Good News with courage and patience. As we go about our daily lives, let us remember that our struggles are not in vain. God is always at work, even when we cannot see it, and He will bring about justice and peace in His own time. Let us pray for the grace to remain steadfast in faith, to trust in His providence, and to live as witnesses of His love in a world that often seems indifferent to it.