Daily Readings - Tue Aug 12 2025
Deuteronomy
1And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel.2And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.3The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said.4And the LORD shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed.5And the LORD shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you.6Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.7And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.8And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Matthew
1At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?2And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,3And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.4Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.5And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.10Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.12How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?13And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.14Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on trust in God’s providence and the call to humility and care for one another. In the first reading from Deuteronomy, Moses, nearing the end of his life, hands over leadership to Joshua. Moses assures the people that God will go before them, fight their battles, and remain faithful even when the challenges seem insurmountable. This passage reminds us that our strength comes not from ourselves but from the Lord, who is always with us, even in uncertain times. Moses’ words to Joshua—“Be strong and valiant”—are not just a personal encouragement but a reminder of God’s constant presence and guidance.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches the disciples about the importance of humility and the care we must show to the vulnerable. Using the image of a child, Jesus emphasizes that to enter the kingdom of heaven, we must become like little ones—humble, trusting, and open to God’s grace. He also warns against despising or neglecting those who are small or weak, reminding us that each person is precious in God’s eyes. The parable of the lost sheep reinforces this message, showing that God’s love is not just for the many but also for the one who is lost. Jesus’ teaching challenges us to examine how we treat others, especially those who may feel overlooked or marginalized.
These readings call us to live with faith and compassion. Like Joshua, we are invited to trust in God’s presence and guidance, even when the path ahead seems difficult. Like the disciples, we are reminded to approach life with humility and to care for one another, especially those who are most in need. Let us ask ourselves: Do we trust in God’s providence, even when things seem uncertain? Do we treat others with the dignity and love they deserve? May we strive to live as people of faith, trusting in God’s plan and reflecting His love in our interactions with the world around us.