Daily Readings - Mon Jun 23 2025
Genesis
1The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.2"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.3I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."4So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran.5He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.6Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.7The LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.8From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.9Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev.
Matthew
1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound lessons from Scripture that guide us in our spiritual journey. The first reading from Genesis 12:1-9 tells the story of Abram, who exemplifies unwavering faith and trust in God. Abram is called to leave behind the familiar—his land, family, and home—for a promise of a new land and a great nation. This journey is not just physical but deeply spiritual, as Abram's obedience and trust in God's promise lay the foundation for his faith. When Abram arrives in Canaan, God reaffirms His promise, and Abram responds by building altars, symbolizing his worship and gratitude.
The Gospel reading from Matthew 7:1-5 shifts our focus to Jesus' teachings on humility and self-reflection. Jesus warns against judging others, emphasizing that we will be judged by the same standards we use on others. The metaphor of the splinter and the plank vividly illustrates the need for self-awareness and humility. Jesus encourages us to first examine our own actions and attitudes before attempting to correct others, fostering a spirit of compassion and understanding.
These readings connect through the themes of trust and humility. Abram's trust in God's promise leads him to a life of obedience and worship, while Jesus' teaching calls us to humility in our interactions with others. Together, they remind us to trust in God's plan and to approach others with compassion and self-awareness. As we navigate our daily lives, let us strive to emulate Abram's faith and Jesus' humility, allowing these virtues to guide our relationships and decisions, leading us closer to God and to each other.