Daily Readings - Sun Aug 07 2022
Hebrews
1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.2This is what the ancients were commended for.8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.11By faith Abraham, even though he was past age--and Sarah herself was barren--was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.12And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
Luke
35"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning,36like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.37It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.38It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.39But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.40You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
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.