Friday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time

• First Reading – Haggai 2:1-9: The Lord promises to fill the new temple with greater glory than before. He encourages the people to be strong, not afraid, and to trust that peace and blessings will come.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 43: I ask God to defend me from deceit and evil, to guide me with his truth, and to bring me to his presence, where I will praise him with joy and thanksgiving.
• Gospel – Luke 9:18-22: Jesus asked his disciples who people said he was. After Peter called him the Messiah, Jesus told them not to share it. He then explained that he must suffer, die, and rise again.

Once, when Jesus was praying alone and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

Luke 9:18

On Friday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, the readings focus on trusting in God’s plan and His promises. The first reading from Haggai reminds the people to take courage, while the Gospel shows Jesus foretelling His suffering and death.

• God’s presence gives strength: In Haggai, God tells His people to be strong because He is with them. This reminds us that God’s presence gives us the courage we need in difficult times.
• Encouragement in hard times: God speaks through Haggai to encourage those who feel discouraged. He promises that better days will come and their efforts will not be wasted.
• God’s future promises: Haggai speaks of the future glory of the temple, showing that God has good things planned for His people. This points to the hope we have in God’s promises, even when we cannot yet see them.
• Jesus predicts His suffering: In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells His disciples about His coming suffering and death. This shows that Jesus knew His mission and accepted the path of sacrifice for our salvation.
• The necessity of the cross: Jesus explains that His suffering and death are necessary. This teaches us that the cross is an important part of God’s plan for redemption.
• Courage in following God’s will: Both readings speak about having courage in the face of challenges. Whether rebuilding the temple or accepting the cross, God calls us to trust and obey, even when it is hard.

In both readings, we see God calling His people to trust in His plan. They remind us that, with faith and courage, we can face trials and hope for the good things God has promised.

The readings for Friday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 invite us to reflect on God’s presence, the necessity of the cross, and trusting in His plan. In the first reading from Haggai, God encourages His people to be strong and continue their work, while in the Gospel, Jesus prepares His disciples for His suffering. These themes teach us about the strength we can find in God and the importance of trusting in Him, even in times of difficulty.

God’s Presence Gives Us Courage

In the first reading for Friday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, God tells His people to be strong because He is with them. The people are discouraged because they think the new temple is not as grand as the old one. God assures them that He is with them, and His presence will give them the courage to keep building. It’s a reminder that, even when we feel our efforts are small, God is still with us.

This applies to our lives because we often feel weak or discouraged when things don’t go as planned. We might feel like what we’re building or doing isn’t good enough. But God’s message is clear: His presence is enough to give us strength. He asks us to trust that He is working, even when we don’t see it.

Whenever we face struggles, we can remember that God is with us. His presence gives us courage to continue, no matter the challenge. Like the people in Haggai’s time, we can trust that God will help us through the difficulties we face.

The Cross Is Necessary

In the Gospel for Friday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, Jesus tells His disciples that He will suffer, die, and rise again. He knows that His death is necessary for the salvation of the world. This might have been hard for His disciples to hear, but Jesus is preparing them for the truth that the cross is part of God’s plan. The suffering He would endure would lead to redemption.

This teaches us that suffering is sometimes part of God’s plan for us as well. We may not always understand why we go through difficult times, but we can trust that God has a greater purpose. The cross, with all its pain, is a reminder that God brings good out of suffering.

When we face hardships in life, we can look to the cross as a source of strength. Jesus embraced His suffering because He knew it was necessary. We, too, can accept the challenges we face, knowing that God can use them for good.

Trusting in God’s Plan

Both the first reading from Haggai and the Gospel for Friday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 speak about trusting in God’s plan, even when things don’t make sense. In Haggai, the people feel discouraged because the new temple doesn’t seem as glorious as the old one. But God tells them to keep building, promising that the future temple will be even greater. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of His suffering and death, which was also hard to understand at the time. Yet, Jesus trusted that it was necessary.

Trusting in God’s plan means believing that He knows what is best for us, even when it’s hard to see the bigger picture. Like the people rebuilding the temple or the disciples hearing about Jesus’ death, we may not always understand what God is doing. But we are called to keep going, trusting that God is guiding us toward something greater.

In our own lives, we can apply this by continuing to follow God, even when the way forward is unclear. God asks us to trust Him, just as He asked His people in the readings. We can hold onto His promises, knowing that He is always working for our good.

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Friday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 shows us that God is with us in all situations, whether we are facing discouragement or preparing for challenges. God calls us to trust in His plan and accept the crosses we carry, knowing that He is guiding us to something greater. With faith and courage, we can continue our journey with confidence in God’s promises.

Prayer

Lord, help us to trust in You when we feel weak or discouraged. Give us the courage to carry our crosses and follow Your plan, even when we don’t fully understand it. Strengthen our faith and remind us that You are always with us, guiding our steps. Amen.

Reflection Questions

• How can I rely on God’s presence in moments of weakness or fear?
• What challenges in my life might God be calling me to face with courage and trust?
• How can I embrace the cross in my own life and see it as part of God’s plan?
• In what ways can I strengthen my faith when God’s plan seems unclear to me?

USCCB Reflection: Who Do You Say That I Am?

In this USCCB video reflection for Friday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1, Fr. Greg Friedman reflects on Jesus’ question, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” Jesus draws out the opinions of the people but is more interested in His disciples’ personal response. Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, but Jesus explains He will be a suffering Messiah. This passage challenges us to examine our relationship with Jesus and how we live in response to who He is in our lives.

What date is Friday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

The next date is Friday September 26, 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 Friday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 2.

What are the Mass readings for Friday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

The Mass readings for Friday September 26, 2025 are:
First Reading  – Haggai 2:1-9: The Promise of a Greater Glory
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 43: Trusting in God for Justice and Guidance
Gospel – Luke 9:18-22: Peter’s Confession and Jesus’ Prediction

What is the message of the first reading for Friday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

In this reading, God encourages His people to be strong and not to fear. He reminds them that He is with them, even when things look difficult or uncertain.

Why does God tell the people to be strong in the reading from Haggai?

God’s people were rebuilding the temple, but they felt discouraged because it didn’t seem as grand as the old one. God encourages them to keep going because He has bigger plans for their future.

How does the first reading apply to our lives?

We often feel weak or discouraged when we don’t see immediate results from our efforts. The reading teaches us to trust that God is with us, even when things seem small or unfinished.

How does the promise of future glory in Haggai relate to us?

God’s promise of future glory gives us hope, even when our present situation seems hard. It reminds us to look forward with trust in God’s good plan for our lives.

What does Jesus tell His disciples in the Gospel for Friday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

In the Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples that He will suffer, die, and rise again. He is preparing them for what is to come and helping them understand that suffering is part of His mission.

Why did Jesus have to suffer?

Jesus’ suffering was part of God’s plan for our salvation. His death on the cross was necessary to save us from sin and bring us back to God.

How can we follow the message of the Gospel from Friday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1?

We can follow Jesus by accepting the challenges and crosses we face in life. Like Jesus, we are called to trust in God’s plan, even when it involves suffering or sacrifice.

What can we learn from the readings for Friday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle 1 about facing challenges?

Both readings show that challenges are a part of life, but God gives us the strength to face them. Whether it is building something or accepting hardship, God is always with us.