Sunday between 7 and 13 August    

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

First Reading - 1 Kings 19.9a, 11-13a

A reading from the first book of Kings. Elijah arrived at the mountain of God; and entered a cave, where he spent the night. Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah, saying, ‘Go out, and stand on the mountain, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ And there came a great wind, so strong that it was breaking rocks, from the mountains, into pieces; but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind, there was an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake, a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, a still, small voice, like a breath, or a whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his cloak around his face, and went out, and stood at the entrance of the cave; and then came the voice of the Lord. This is the word of the Lord.

Second Reading - Romans 8.31-39

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans. We can trust that God, who gave his Son for us, will surely give us all that we could ever need, and more. And knowing that God is with us, we know that nothing can stand against us. No charge can be brought against God’s chosen, for it is God who declares us free. No one can condemn, for it is Christ Jesus who intercedes for us at the right hand of God. And nothing can separate us from the love of Christ - not hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or destitution, or danger, or the sword. It says in the Psalm, ‘For your sake, we are being killed all day long, like sheep to be slaughtered.’ Yet in all these things, we overcome through the one who loves us.

And so I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord. This is the word of the Lord.

Gospel - Matthew 14.22-33

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. Jesus sent the disciples on ahead of him, back across the lake, by boat. As darkness fell, he dismissed the crowds, and went up the mountain, by himself, to pray. The disciples, in the boat, were now far from land. And the boat was being battered by the waves, for the wind was against them. In the darkness before dawn, Jesus came walking towards them on the lake. When the disciples saw him, they were terrified, and cried out in fear. But Jesus said to them, ‘I am with you. Do not be afraid.’ Peter said, ‘Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.’ Jesus said, ‘Come.’ Peter stepped out of the boat, on to the water, to walk towards Jesus. But suddenly aware of the strength of the storm, Peter became frightened, and began to sink. Peter cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus reached out his hand, and caught hold of Peter, saying, ‘Why so little faith?’ As Jesus and Peter climbed into the boat, the wind dropped. And the disciples worshipped Jesus, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’ This is the Gospel of the Lord.