Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 13, 2025
First Reading: Esther 14.1, 3-5, 12-14
Psalm 138
1I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; before the "gods" I will sing your praise.2I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.3When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.4May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD, when they hear the words of your mouth.5May they sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.6Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me.8The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever- do not abandon the works of your hands.
Gospel: Matthew 7.7-12
7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful expressions of faith and trust in God’s providence. The first reading from Esther presents us with a queen in crisis, pleading with God for help in a desperate situation. Esther, aware of her people’s suffering and the danger that looms over them, turns to the Lord with humility and urgency. Her prayer is not just a request for deliverance but also an act of faith, trusting that God, who has chosen Israel and remains faithful to his promises, will intervene in their time of need. Esther’s words remind us that even in the face of uncertainty and fear, we can turn to God, knowing that he is our only true helper.
The Gospel reading from Matthew complements this theme of trust in God. Jesus teaches us about the importance of persistent prayer and the certainty of God’s response. He uses the analogy of a father who would never give his child a stone when they ask for bread or a snake when they ask for a fish. If even sinful humans know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more will our heavenly Father, who is perfect and loving, give us what we need when we ask him. Jesus also ties this teaching to the Golden Rule, reminding us that our relationship with God is inseparable from our relationship with others. We are called to treat others with the same kindness and generosity that we hope to receive from God.
These readings invite us to reflect on our own trust in God and how we live out our faith in daily life. Like Esther, we may face challenges and uncertainties, but we are called to turn to God with the same humility and confidence. Like the father in the Gospel, we are reminded that God is always generous and faithful, even when we are not. As we navigate our own struggles and relationships, let us remember to pray with persistence and trust, and to treat others with the same love and kindness we desire from God. In doing so, we not only deepen our relationship with God but also become instruments of his love and mercy in the world.