Ninth Sunday after Pentecost 2025: August 10, 2025

This week we celebrate the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost 2025.

You’re warmly invited to St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, Burlington, WI (216 E Chandler Blvd) for our 9:00 AM Holy Eucharist, using Track II readings. Can’t be with us in person? Join us via live stream, podcast, or replay video.

“Faith that Sees Promise”

Join us for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost 2025 Electronically

We understand that not everyone can join us in person for services, but we invite you to worship with us nonetheless.

Live Stream/Replay

Join us live at 9 AM on August 10, 2025. The live stream will begin with a prelude at 8:50 AM. You are welcome to join us closer to the start of the service. Additionally, after the service, the video will immediately be available as a replay using the same link.

Podcast

We also have a podcast where you can listen from the opening hymn to the sharing of peace.

You can find us on all major podcast players. Why not follow or subscribe to the St. John the Divine Podcast?

Collect of the Day for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost 2025

Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (The Episcopal Church)

Readings for Ninth Sunday after Pentecost 2025

Feel free to read along or ahead with the readings below. You may also print the reading if you wish.

Proper 14C, Track 2 Download

Genesis 15:1–6

In a vision, God reassures Abram with promises of descendants and blessings: “Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord credited it to him as righteousness.”

1After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”

2But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” 4But the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” 5He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.

Psalm 50:1–8, 23–24

God speaks as both judge and redeemer, calling for genuine worship, honoring obedience, and offering salvation to those who serve diligently.

12 Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord! *
        happy the people he has chosen to be his own!
13 The Lord looks down from heaven, *
        and beholds all the people in the world.
14 From where he sits enthroned he turns his gaze *
        on all who dwell on the earth.
15 He fashions all the hearts of them *
        and understands all their works.
16 There is no king that can be saved by a mighty army;
        a strong man is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The horse is a vain hope for deliverance; *
        for all its strength it cannot save.
18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear him, *
        on those who wait upon his love,
19 To pluck their lives from death, *
        and to feed them in time of famine.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord; *
        he is our help and our shield.
21 Indeed, our heart rejoices in him, *
        for in his holy Name we put our trust.
22 Let your loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, *
        as we have put our trust in you.

Hebrews 11:1–3, 8–16

Faith is described as assurance in what is unseen. By faith, Abraham obeyed God’s call, living as a stranger in the promised land, trusting in a city built by God.

1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval.3By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. 8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised. 12Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.” 13All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, 14for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.

Luke 12:32–40

Jesus encourages his disciples not to fear, but to trust that God will provide for them. He urges them to be ready through faithful stewardship because the Son of Man will come at an unexpected hour.

32“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 35“Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; 36be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. 37Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them.38If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. 39“But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”

Reflection

This week’s readings invite us to embrace a faith that looks forward to the fulfillment of the divine promise.

• Abraham’s faith in God’s unlikely promise encourages us to trust beyond what we can see.
• Psalm 50 emphasizes that worship should be grounded in obedience and justice to truly honor God.
• The reading from Hebrews honors individuals who lived according to their faith in things they could not see.
• Jesus calls us to live with expectation and faithfulness, as servants prepared for the master’s return.

As we gather this Sunday, may our hearts be renewed in trust, our worship deepened by faith, and our readiness grounded in compassion and service.

---

📍 216 E Chandler Blvd, Burlington, WI
📺 Live Stream & Replay Available
🎙️ Podcast on All Major Platforms

All are welcome—come as you are to receive God’s Word, grow in faith, and follow with courage.