Daily Catholic Lectio. Sat, 2 Aug ‘25. Times are His

Daily Catholic Lectio

Sat, 2 August ‘25

Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time, Saturday

Leviticus 25:1, 8-17. Matthew 14:1-12

Times are His

At the Easter Vigil, as the new fire is blessed, the deacon sings: “All time belongs to Him and all ages.” Time is God’s gift. We may choose where we want to be on a given day, but we cannot choose whether that day will come to us. Today, 2 August, is not ours by right; it is God’s gracious gift. Every moment of life is entrusted to us by the Lord who governs all times and seasons.

God’s Time and the Jubilee

In the first reading, God gives instructions about celebrating the Jubilee year. Jubilee is about rest, reconciliation, renewal, and a fresh start. It reminds Israel that the land belongs to God and that life is not just about endless work and accumulation. It is a time to release debts, free slaves, and give the land a time of rest. The final words are powerful: “I am the Lord your God.” The message is clear: all blessings and all times are His. Our call is to trust His providence and to share His mercy with others.

The Gospel and the Shortness of Time

The Gospel tells us about the death of John the Baptist. John lived his mission fearlessly, knowing that his time on earth was limited but filled with purpose. Herod, on the other hand, was torn by fear, guilt, and pride, leading him to commit a terrible crime. How true it is that life’s circumstances test us: will we choose God’s way or give in to the pressure of the world?

John’s life reminds us that what truly matters is how we live the time God gives us. Even when our life is short, it can shine with meaning when lived in faithfulness to God.

The Times Belong to God

God works in His time, not ours. He calls us to rest in Him and to trust that every season of life has a purpose. Our task is not to control time, but to make every moment a gift of love and service. When we accept that “the times are His,” we find peace amidst life’s uncertainties. We do not cling to our plans but surrender to God’s plan.

A Call for Us

Can we live each day as if it were a gift from God? Are we willing to forgive and free others, just as Jubilee calls for mercy? Like John the Baptist, can we stand firm in truth, even when the world rejects it?

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy