Daily Catholic Mass Readings for September 12, 2025
First Reading: 1 Timothy 1.1-2, 12-14
1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;2Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.12And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;13Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.14And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 16
1Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.2O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;3But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.4Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.5The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.6The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.7I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.8I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.9Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.10For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.11Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Gospel: Luke 6.39-42
39And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?40The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.41And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?42Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about transformation, humility, and the call to live out our faith with integrity. The first reading from 1 Timothy finds Paul expressing deep gratitude to God for the mercy and grace he has received. Despite his past as a blasphemer and persecutor of the Church, Paul humbly acknowledges that God’s grace has transformed him, enabling him to serve as a minister of the Gospel. This passage reminds us that none of us are beyond the reach of God’s mercy and that our past does not define us when we turn to Him with faith and repentance.
The Gospel from Luke complements this message with Jesus’ teachings on humility and self-awareness. Using the vivid parable of the blind leading the blind, Jesus warns against the dangers of hypocrisy and the importance of examining our own lives before judging others. He challenges us to recognize the "plank" in our own eye before trying to remove the "straw" from our brother’s eye. This is not a call to ignore the faults of others but rather to approach them with humility and honesty, first acknowledging our own need for conversion and growth.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own lives and relationships. Like Paul, we are called to embrace God’s mercy and allow it to transform us. Like Jesus teaches, we must approach others with compassion and humility, recognizing that we are all in need of grace. In our daily lives, this means being honest about our own shortcomings, seeking forgiveness, and striving to grow in holiness. It also means approaching others with kindness and patience, rather than judgment. Let us ask for the grace to see ourselves as we truly are and to live with the humility and love that God calls us to.