Daily Readings - Sun Oct 19 2025
Exodus
8The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.9Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands."10So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill.11As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.12When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up-one on one side, one on the other-so that his hands remained steady till sunset.13So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
2 Timothy
14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Luke
1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.2He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men.3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'4"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men,5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'"6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says.7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Sermon
The readings today remind us of the importance of perseverance and trust in God’s providence, even in the face of challenges. In the first reading from Exodus, Moses leads the Israelites in battle against Amalek. Though Moses’ raised hands symbolize prayer and trust in God, his human weakness sets in, and he grows tired. It is only through the support of Aaron and Hur that he can continue, showing us that our faith is not a solitary act but one sustained by community and mutual support. The victory over Amalek is not just a military triumph but a spiritual one, demonstrating that God’s power works through our efforts and our reliance on Him.
The second reading from 2 Timothy emphasizes the importance of remaining faithful to the teachings of Scripture. St. Paul reminds Timothy that the Sacred Scriptures are our guide for salvation and that they equip us for every good work. This reading encourages us to stay rooted in the Word of God, even when the world around us seems uncertain or hostile. It also reminds us of the responsibility to share the Gospel with urgency and patience, trusting in God’s plan to bring about His kingdom.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow, teaching us about the necessity of prayer and trust in God’s justice. The unjust judge, who neither fears God nor respects man, is moved to act simply because the widow’s persistence wears him down. Jesus contrasts this with God, who is just and loving, promising that He will vindicate His elect who cry out to Him day and night. Yet, the parable ends with a haunting question: will faith still be found on earth when the Son of Man returns? This challenges us to examine our own commitment to prayer and our trust in God’s timing.
These readings call us to live with perseverance and faith. Like Moses, we may grow weary, but we are not alone—God provides us with the support of others and the strength of His Word. Like the widow, we must persist in prayer, trusting that God hears us and will act in His time. And like Timothy, we are called to remain faithful to the teachings of Scripture and to share the Good News with courage and patience. As we go about our daily lives, let us remember that our struggles are not in vain. God is always at work, even when we cannot see it, and He will bring about justice and peace in His own time. Let us pray for the grace to remain steadfast in faith, to trust in His providence, and to live as witnesses of His love in a world that often seems indifferent to it.