Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection August 10, 2025
Sunday – 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
10th August 2025 (Sunday)
Psalter: Week 3
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Wisdom 18:6-9
That night was made known beforehand to our fathers, so that they might rejoice in sure knowledge of the oaths in which they trusted. The deliverance of the righteous and the destruction of their enemies were expected by your people. For by the same means by which you punished our enemies you called us to yourself and glorified us. For in secret the holy children of good people offered sacrifices and with one accord agreed to the divine law, that the saints would share alike the same things, both blessings and dangers; already they were singing the praises of the fathers.
Psalm 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22 R.(12b)
R/. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen as his heritage
Second Reading: Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19
Brethren: Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Stay awake therefore, and be ready the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect
R/. Alleluia
Gospel: Luke 12:32-48
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Sunday – 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Main Point: Life is always marked by precarity and uncertainty. But God’s promises and actions are sure and fulfilling
1. We are called to be good servants and faithful stewards of our master. How to be so? What are some features of such servantship and stewardship?
2. We can synthesise all these marks into the three fundamental theological virtues. They are, namely, faith, hope and charity. It is not a peripheral, superficial faith that believes certain doctrines and truths, or recites some prayers or performs certain religious activities.
3. It is a living faith that trusts deeply, relates intimately, and surrenders totally. It is a faith that confides in God’s promises even beyond ages and times. It is a faith that is ready to undergo any trial and test and readily proves its depth and reliability.
4. It is a test-proven faith. It is a faith that shows itself in action, like Abraham. He left his own country and people to travel to an unknown land. He trusted in God’s promise of an heir and multitude of descendants even in his ripe age. He trusted in God’s just and unfailing ways and was ready to sacrifice his only son, even against the apparent violation of God’s promise of a multitude of nations.
5. Another hallmark of a good servant and friend of God is hope. True hope is not mere wishful thinking or having great ambitions and expectations. Hope is not losing heart even when everything goes wrong. Hope is keeping alive our trust and confidence in God even when He seems to fail us. Hope hopes in God’s loyalty even against all hopes.
6. A faithful servant and steward of God is also characterised by charity. Benevolence toward others authenticates a good servant. Faith and hope demonstrate how one is before God and in relation to God. But charity shows concretely how one becomes and acts toward others.
7. Thus, all the good people of faith and hope are also people of charity. One cannot be a faithful and hopeful person without being a charitable person.
8. All these three essential ingredients of faith, hope and charity are spread in all three readings. They are studded into the description of a good servant by Jesus. Different expressions of Jesus indicate these.
9. Faith includes being awake, being alert, ready, being prepared, being dressed for action, with lamps lit and burning. Faith keenly and eagerly serves the master. Faith shares both the blessings and sufferings. Faith considers God and His concerns as the greatest treasures and sets its heart in them.
10. Hope includes waiting on the master, not getting upset at delay and reversal of expectations. Hope trusts perseveringly in God’s justice and mercy, in His intervention and vindication. Hope trusts in God’s definitive way of destroying evil and recompensing and glorifying the good. Hope waits patiently for God’s own time and in God’s own way.
11. Finally, the fidelity of a servant is testified by charity. This is shown in deep respect and concern for others. There is no degrading or despising, or ill-treating. There is no neglect or unconcern. There is no irresponsibility or failure in duty and service.
My Practice: How many of today’s servants of the master stand these tests? First of all, how many followers of Christ are aware that they are only servants and disciples and not masters and bosses?
