Daily Readings - Sun Aug 10 2025
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 readiness. In the first reading from the Book of Wisdom, we hear about the night of the Passover, a moment of salvation for God’s people. The Israelites, trusting in God’s promises, were prepared to act faithfully, even in the face of uncertainty. This passage reminds us that God’s justice and mercy are at work in the world, and we are called to trust in His plan, even when the future seems unclear.
The second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews deepens this theme by defining faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Abraham and Sarah are held up as examples of those who trusted God’s promises, even when they seemed impossible. Abraham left his home without knowing where he was going, and Sarah conceived a child in her old age, both acts of faith that trusted in God’s fidelity. This passage challenges us to examine our own faith—do we trust God enough to step into the unknown, believing that He will fulfill His promises?
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the servants waiting for their master’s return to emphasize the importance of being prepared. The servants who are vigilant and ready are blessed, while those who are unprepared risk missing the master’s arrival. This teaching is not just about the end times; it’s about how we live each day. Jesus calls us to be spiritually alert, to keep our hearts and lives oriented toward Him, so that we are ready to welcome Him whenever He comes—whether at the end of our lives or in the unexpected moments of grace that He offers us daily.
These readings together remind us that faith is not just a feeling or an idea; it is a way of life. It requires us to trust in God’s plan, even when we don’t see the full picture, and to live with our hearts and minds fixed on eternal realities. As we go about our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Am I living with faith and trust in God? Am I prepared to meet Him, whether in the ordinary moments or in the extraordinary? May we, like the just and faithful servants, be found ready and vigilant, trusting in the Lord who is always faithful.