Bible Readings - July 25, 2025

Reading I

Exodus 20:1-26

Then God spoke all these words:

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt,

out of the house of slavery.

You shall not have other gods beside me.

You shall not make for yourself an idol or a likeness of anything in the heavens above

or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth;

you shall not bow down before them or serve them. For I, the LORD, your God,

am a jealous God, inflicting punishment for their ancestors’ wickedness

on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation;

but showing love down to the thousandth generation of those who love me

and keep my commandments.

You shall not invoke the name of the LORD, your God, in vain.

For the LORD will not leave unpunished anyone who invokes his name in vain.

Remember the sabbath day—keep it holy.

Six days you may labor and do all your work,

but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God.

You shall not do any work, either you, your son or your daughter,

your male or female slave, your work animal, or the resident alien

within your gates.

For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea

and all that is in them; but on the seventh day he rested.

That is why the LORD has blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.

Honor your father and your mother, that you may have a long life

in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

You shall not kill.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet

your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey,

or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Now as all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning,

the blast of the shofar and the mountain smoking, they became afraid

and trembled. So they took up a position farther away

and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen;

but do not let God speak to us, or we shall die.”

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid, for God has come

only to test you and put the fear of him upon you so you do not sin.”

So the people remained at a distance, while Moses approached

the dark cloud where God was.

The LORD said to Moses: This is what you will say to the Israelites:

You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven.

You shall not make alongside of me gods of silver, nor shall you make

for yourselves gods of gold.

An altar of earth make for me, and sacrifice upon it your burnt offerings

and communion sacrifices, your sheep and your oxen. In every place

where I cause my name to be invoked I will come to you and bless you.

But if you make an altar of stone for me, do not build it of cut stone,

for by putting a chisel to it you profane it.

You shall not ascend to my altar by steps, lest your nakedness be exposed.

Psalm 126:1b-6

When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,

we were like men dreaming.

Then our mouth was filled with laughter,

and our tongue with rejoicing.

Then they said among the nations,

"The LORD has done great things for them."

The LORD has done great things for us;

we are glad indeed.

Restore our fortunes, O LORD,

like the torrents in the southern desert.

Those that sow in tears

shall reap rejoicing.

Although they go forth weeping,

carrying the seed to be sown,

They shall come back rejoicing,

carrying their sheaves.

John 15:16-17

It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you

and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,

so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.

This I command you: love one another.

Gospel

Matthew 20:20-28

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons

and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.

He said to her,

"What do you wish?"

She answered him,

"Command that these two sons of mine sit,

one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom."

Jesus said in reply,

"You do not know what you are asking.

Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?"

They said to him, "We can."

He replied,

"My chalice you will indeed drink,

but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give

but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."

When the ten heard this,

they became indignant at the two brothers.

But Jesus summoned them and said,

"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,

and the great ones make their authority over them felt.

But it shall not be so among you.

Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;

whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.

Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served

but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."