Wednesday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time

• First Reading – Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12: While tending sheep, Moses sees a burning bush that does not burn. God speaks to him, revealing Himself as the God of his ancestors, and appoints Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 103: Praise the Lord for His kindness and mercy. He forgives sins, heals diseases, and saves lives. He brings justice and reveals His ways to His people.
• Gospel – Matthew 11:25-27: Jesus praises the Father for revealing truth to the humble and childlike, emphasizing that only the Father knows the Son and only the Son knows the Father and reveals Him to others.

Lectionary Reference: 391

Upcoming dates: July 16, 2025, July 14, 2027, July 18, 2029, July 16, 2031, July 13, 2033

Although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to the childlike. 

Matthew 11:25

On Wednesday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, the readings highlight God’s revelation and guidance. These passages encourage trust, humility, and understanding of God’s nature.

• God’s Revelation to Moses: Moses encounters God through the burning bush. This shows that God chooses unexpected ways to reveal Himself and guide His people.
• God’s Faithfulness: God identifies Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This underscores His faithfulness to the promises made to the patriarchs.
• Moses’ Mission: God calls Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. This shows God’s plan to save His people and the role of human cooperation in His plans.
• Humility and Understanding: In the Gospel, Jesus praises the Father for revealing truths to the humble and childlike. This teaches that humility opens us to God’s wisdom.
• Knowledge of God: Jesus says only the Father knows the Son and only the Son knows the Father. This emphasizes the unique relationship between Jesus and God and how Jesus reveals God to us.
• God’s Guidance: Both readings show God’s active role in guiding His people. God leads Moses and reveals truth through Jesus, showing His constant care.

These themes for Wednesday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 help us see how God communicates and cares for His people. Reflecting on these can strengthen our faith and understanding of God’s ways.

The readings for Wednesday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 reveal God’s ways of communicating and guiding His people. These passages highlight the importance of humility, obedience, and trust in God’s plans. Reflecting on these readings can help us understand how God works in our lives.

God’s Revelation to Moses

In the first reading, Moses encounters the burning bush while tending sheep. This unusual sight captures his attention, leading him to a deeper experience of God. God uses this moment to reveal Himself and His plans for Moses and the Israelites.

God identifies Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This shows His faithfulness and connection to the promises made to the patriarchs. Moses learns that God’s promises extend to him and his mission to free the Israelites from slavery.

This passage reminds us that God can reveal Himself in unexpected ways. We need to be attentive and open to His presence in our lives. Like Moses, we can be called to important tasks that require faith and trust in God.

Humility and Understanding

In the Gospel reading, Jesus praises the Father for revealing truths to the humble and childlike. He contrasts this with those who consider themselves wise and learned. Humility is the key to understanding God’s ways.

Jesus emphasizes that only the Father knows the Son, and only the Son knows the Father. This relationship is unique and special. Through Jesus, we gain a deeper understanding of God and His love for us.

We learn that humility opens our hearts to God’s wisdom. Being childlike means trusting in God and being open to His teachings. By following Jesus, we come to know God more fully.

God’s Guidance

Both readings show God’s active role in guiding His people. God calls Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, a challenging but crucial mission. Moses’ obedience to this call reflects his trust in God’s guidance.

In the Gospel, Jesus shows that He reveals the Father to those who are open to receiving Him. This revelation is a form of guidance, leading us closer to God. Jesus’ teachings help us understand and follow God’s path for us.

God’s guidance is always present in our lives. We need to be open to His direction and willing to follow His lead. Trusting in God’s plans brings us closer to Him and helps us fulfill our mission.

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The readings for Wednesday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 teach us about God’s ways of revealing Himself and guiding us. Through humility, trust, and openness, we can understand and follow God’s plans. Reflecting on these themes can deepen our faith and relationship with God.

Prayer

Lord, help us to be humble and open to Your guidance. Reveal Yourself to us in unexpected ways and give us the courage to follow Your plans. Strengthen our trust in You and lead us closer to Your love. Amen.

Reflection Questions

• How can you be more attentive to the ways God reveals Himself in your daily life?
• Are there tasks or challenges in your life where you feel unworthy? How can you trust God to guide and strengthen you?
• What does it mean to have a childlike trust in God, and how can you practice this in your faith journey?
• How can you open your heart to better understand and follow God’s guidance in your life?

Word on Fire: The Divine Relationship

On Wednesday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, Bishop Robert Barron explains that Jesus’ identity is extraordinary and distinctive. Like Abraham, Moses, and other prophets, He is sent by God, but there’s a remarkable difference.

Jesus is both the sent one and God Himself. His words and actions reveal His divine authority: forgiving sins, presenting new teachings, and speaking of eternal truths. He is not a mere creature but the perfect reflection of the Father, the Word or Logos through which the Father comprehends Himself. The eternal relationship between the Father and the Son is marked by mutual love, the Holy Spirit.

USCCB Reflection: God Walks with His People

In this USCCB video reflection for Wednesday of the 15th week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, the focus is on God’s revelation to Moses through the burning bush in the book of Exodus. The reflection highlights God’s personal and loving nature, as He calls Moses to lead the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt.

It emphasizes that God walks with us in our daily lives, sharing in our joys and struggles, and desires a close relationship with us. The reflection encourages us to recognize and invite God’s presence in our lives, finding His majesty in creation, showing love to one another, and allowing Him to walk with us each day.

What date is Wednesday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

The next date is Wednesday July 16, 2025.

Cycle 1 is used in odd numbered years and Cycle 2 is used in even numbered years. The gospel is the same for both years. For even numbered years see Wednesday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2.

What are the Mass readings for Wednesday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

The Mass readings for Wednesday July 16, 2025 are:
First Reading – Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12: Moses and the Burning Bush
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 103: Praise and Bless the Lord
Gospel – Matthew 11:25-27: Praise to the Father

Why did God appear to Moses in a burning bush in the first reading for Wednesday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

God appeared to Moses in a burning bush to get his attention. The burning bush did not burn up, showing that this was a special sign from God.

What does it mean that God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?

This means God is faithful to the promises He made to the ancestors of the Israelites. It shows that God’s care and plans for His people continue through generations.

Why did Moses take off his sandals when he approached the burning bush?

God told Moses to take off his sandals because he was on holy ground. This shows respect for God’s presence and the special nature of the place.

How does God guide us today like He guided Moses?

God guides us through prayer, the Bible, and the teachings of the Church. We need to be open and listen to His guidance in our lives.

Why is Moses’ mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt important?

Moses’ mission is important because it shows God’s plan to save His people from slavery. It also shows how God can work through us to help others.

How can we be humble and childlike, as Jesus says in the Gospel for Wednesday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

Being humble and childlike means trusting in God and being open to His teachings. It means not thinking we know everything and being ready to learn from God.

What does it mean that only the Father knows the Son and only the Son knows the Father?

This means that Jesus and God have a unique and close relationship. Through Jesus, we can come to know God better.

How can we apply the lessons from Wednesday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 to our lives?

We can apply these lessons by being open to God’s signs, trusting His guidance, and staying humble. This helps us grow in our faith and follow God’s path for us.