Daily Readings - Sun Aug 10 2025
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 readiness. In the first reading from the Book of Wisdom, we hear about the night of the Passover, a moment of salvation for God’s people. The Israelites, trusting in God’s promises, were prepared to act faithfully, even in the face of uncertainty. This passage reminds us that God’s justice and mercy are at work in the world, and we are called to trust in His plan, even when the future seems unclear.
The second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews deepens this theme by defining faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Abraham and Sarah are held up as examples of those who trusted God’s promises, even when they seemed impossible. Abraham left his home without knowing where he was going, and Sarah conceived a child in her old age, both acts of faith that trusted in God’s fidelity. This passage challenges us to examine our own faith—do we trust God enough to step into the unknown, believing that He will fulfill His promises?
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the servants waiting for their master’s return to emphasize the importance of being prepared. The servants who are vigilant and ready are blessed, while those who are unprepared risk missing the master’s arrival. This teaching is not just about the end times; it’s about how we live each day. Jesus calls us to be spiritually alert, to keep our hearts and lives oriented toward Him, so that we are ready to welcome Him whenever He comes—whether at the end of our lives or in the unexpected moments of grace that He offers us daily.
These readings together remind us that faith is not just a feeling or an idea; it is a way of life. It requires us to trust in God’s plan, even when we don’t see the full picture, and to live with our hearts and minds fixed on eternal realities. As we go about our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Am I living with faith and trust in God? Am I prepared to meet Him, whether in the ordinary moments or in the extraordinary? May we, like the just and faithful servants, be found ready and vigilant, trusting in the Lord who is always faithful.