Thursday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time

• First Reading – Exodus 3:13-20: When Moses questioned God’s name, God revealed Himself as “I AM.” He instructed Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt with miraculous signs.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 105: Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His deeds among the nations. Remember His covenant with Abraham and Isaac, how He delivered His people through Moses and Aaron with signs and wonders.
• Gospel – Matthew 11:28-30: Jesus invites the weary and burdened to come to him for rest, offering his gentle and humble guidance. He promises that his yoke is easy and his burden is light.

Lectionary Reference: 392

Upcoming dates: July 17, 2025, July 15, 2027, July 19, 2029, July 17, 2031, July 14, 2033

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

On Thursday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, we reflect on important themes from the readings. These themes help us understand God’s messages and promises.

• God’s Identity: God reveals His name as “I AM” to Moses, showing He is always present and unchanging.
• Leadership: God calls Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, showing God chooses leaders to guide His people.
• God’s Power: God promises to perform miraculous signs to free the Israelites, showing His power over all things.
• Rest in Jesus: Jesus invites the weary to come to Him for rest, showing He cares for our burdens.
• Gentle Guidance: Jesus describes His guidance as gentle and humble, showing He leads us with kindness.
• Light Burden: Jesus says His yoke is easy and His burden light, showing that following Him brings true peace.

These themes remind us of God’s presence, care, and power. Reflecting on them helps us trust in God’s guidance and find rest in Jesus.

On Thursday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, the readings guide us to understand God’s nature and Jesus’ invitation. These readings help us see how God reveals Himself, calls us to lead, and offers us rest.

God’s Name

In the first reading, Moses asks God what His name is. God replies, “I AM.” This shows us that God is always present and unchanging.

When God calls Himself “I AM,” He tells us that He is with us at all times. God does not change, and we can rely on Him. This gives us comfort and strength in our daily lives.

Knowing that God is “I AM” helps us trust in Him. No matter what we face, God is always there. He is the same God who helped Moses and who helps us now.

God Calls Leaders

In the reading from Exodus, God calls Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. God chooses Moses to guide His people.

God often chooses people to lead and help others. Moses was unsure of his abilities, but God promised to be with him. This teaches us that God supports us when He gives us a task.

We might feel unqualified, but God helps us. When He calls us to lead, He provides what we need. Like Moses, we can trust in God’s support.

Rest in Jesus

In the Gospel, Jesus invites those who are weary and burdened to come to Him for rest. He promises to give them peace.

Jesus knows that we get tired and burdened. He offers us rest and comfort. This shows us that Jesus cares deeply for us and wants to help us.

Following Jesus brings peace to our lives. His guidance is gentle and kind. When we are tired, we can go to Jesus and find rest.

---

On Thursday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, we see how God reveals His presence, calls us to lead, and offers us rest. These readings help us trust in God’s unchanging nature, His support in our tasks, and the peace we find in Jesus.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for always being with us. Help us trust in Your presence and strength. Guide us in our tasks and give us rest in Jesus. Amen.

Reflection Questions

• How does knowing God as “I AM” help you trust in His presence in your life?
• Are there times when you have felt unqualified for a task but experienced God’s help?
• What burdens are you carrying that you need to bring to Jesus for rest?
• How can you live out Jesus’ invitation to trust in His peace and guidance in your daily life?

Word on Fire: Relief in Surrender

On Thursday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, Bishop Robert Barron highlights that the Lord offers solace to those burdened by sin, worries, suffering, or injustice. Relief comes by submitting to Christ’s kingship and embracing His new way. Like pack animals under a farmer’s yoke, we serve His purposes and follow His lead.

Is Christ the Lord of every aspect of our lives? Surrendering to His path brings lightness, ease, and joy. As Jesus said, “My yoke is easy, my burden is light.” Moving with divine purpose, our lives become joyful.

USCCB Reflection: Blessings and Refreshment

In this USCCB video reflection for Thursday of the 15th week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, the focus is on the true meaning of blessings in our lives. The reflection highlights Jesus’ invitation to come to Him for refreshment and the significance of His custom-made yoke that fits our individual journeys. It emphasizes that blessings are not about luck or material possessions but about being in tune with the Holy Spirit and recognizing the depth of connectedness we have as part of the Body of Christ.

The reflection encourages us to seek refreshment, embrace the burdens of following Christ, and find joy in coming together as a community.

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

The next date is Thursday July 17, 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 Thursday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2.

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

The Mass readings for Thursday July 17, 2025 are:
First Reading – Exodus 3:13-20: The Name of God and the Deliverance of Israel
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 105: Remembering God’s Covenant
Gospel – Matthew 11:28-30: Rest for the Weary

What does “I AM” mean in the first reading?

In the first reading for Thursday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, “I AM” means that God is always present and unchanging. God is telling us that He is with us at all times.

Why did Moses ask God for His name?

Moses asked God for His name because he wanted to know how to explain who sent him to the Israelites. He needed to tell them that their God had sent him to lead them out of Egypt.

How can we apply God’s name to our lives?

We can remember that God is always with us and does not change. This helps us trust Him in all situations, knowing He is constant and reliable.

Why did God choose Moses to lead the Israelites?

God chose Moses because He wanted someone to guide His people out of slavery in Egypt. Even though Moses felt unsure, God promised to help him.

How can we relate to Moses being chosen to lead?

Like Moses, we might feel unqualified for tasks God gives us. But God supports us and provides what we need, just as He did for Moses.

What does Jesus mean when He says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened”?

In the Gospel reading for Thursday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, Jesus is inviting those who are tired and carrying heavy burdens to come to Him for rest. He offers peace and comfort.

How can we find rest in Jesus?

We can find rest in Jesus by turning to Him in prayer and trusting His guidance. Jesus offers us peace when we are tired and overwhelmed.

What does Jesus mean by “my yoke is easy and my burden is light”?

Jesus means that following Him is not difficult or heavy. His guidance is gentle and kind, bringing us peace and comfort.

How can we apply Jesus’ promise of an easy yoke and light burden to our lives?

We can trust that Jesus will help us with our struggles. By following Him, we find true peace and relief from our burdens.

What should we remember from the readings for Thursday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

We should remember that God is always present, He supports us in our tasks, and Jesus offers us rest and peace. These teachings help us trust in God’s unchanging nature and find comfort in Jesus.