Daily Readings - Thu Jun 26 2025
Genesis
6But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.7And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.8And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.9And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.10And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.11And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.12And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.15And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.16And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.
Matthew
21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.28And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:29For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the 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.