Daily Readings - Sun Aug 07 2022
Hebrews
1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.2For by it the elders obtained a good report.8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.11Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.12Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Luke
35Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;36And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.37Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.38And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.39And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.40Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of faith, trust, and preparedness. In the first reading from the Book of Wisdom, we hear about the night of the Passover, when the Israelites trusted in God’s promises and were spared the destruction that befell the Egyptians. This passage reminds us that faith is not just intellectual assent but a deep trust in God’s plan, even when the future is uncertain. The Israelites’ peace amidst chaos was rooted in their confidence in God’s covenant and His faithfulness.
The second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews elaborates on this theme of faith. The author defines faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not apparent.” Abraham and Sarah are held up as examples of such faith. Despite the impossibility of their situation—Abraham being called to an unknown land and Sarah conceiving a child in her old age—they trusted God’s promises. Their story shows that true faith leads to action, even when the path ahead is unclear. This reading encourages us to embrace the same kind of faith, trusting that God is always faithful to His promises.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the servants waiting for their master’s return to emphasize the importance of vigilance and readiness. The servants who are prepared and faithful in their duties are rewarded, while those who are complacent risk being caught off guard. This passage is a call to live with our hearts and minds focused on God, always ready to respond to His call. It reminds us that our lives as Christians are not about passively waiting but about actively living in anticipation of God’s presence and action in our lives.
These readings, when taken together, challenge us to cultivate a deeper trust in God and to live with purpose and vigilance. Just as the Israelites trusted in the Passover, and Abraham and Sarah trusted in God’s promises, we too are called to trust in God’s plan for our lives. And just as the servants in the Gospel were called to be ready for their master’s return, we are called to be prepared for the ways God may call us to serve or to encounter Him. Let us strive to live each day with faith, hope, and a willingness to follow wherever God leads, knowing that He is always faithful and always with us.