Lectionary Readings for AUGUST 2026
By the Rev Buddy Kirwan
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time – August 2, 2026
Readings: Genesis 32:22-31 Psalm 17:1-7, 15 Romans 9:1-5 Matthew 14:13-21
SUPERNATURAL GOD
In last week’s Old Testament reading we witnessed Laban’s deception of Jacob. Now married to both Rachel (his ‘true love’) and her older sister Leah, babies are born. First to Leah, (initially, Rachel was unable to have children), to Rachel’s servant, to Leah’s servant; God intervened in Rachel’s situation and enabled her to give birth to Joseph and, later-on, Benjamin. As soon as Joseph was born, Jacob decided to head back home. He was still fearful of the brother (Esau) who had threatened to “kill him” because of his deception of him on two occasions. Jacob sent his eleven children with their mothers, and all of his possessions across the “Jabbok” river. He was then alone, until we read of his incredible ‘wrestling-encounter’ on that night (Genesis 32:24-27. During this ‘transformative’ experience for Jacob, God changed his name to Israel (32:28). In Psalm 17, David cries out to God in lament. It appears that he was suffering at the hand of his enemies and appeals to God to: “Wondrously show your steadfast love, O saviour of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand” v7. He finishes his prayer with an expression of confidence: “when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness” v15. In Romans 9, Paul shares with his letter’s recipients, the “great sorrow” that he feels for his fellow-Jews vv2-3. He goes on to remind them that to these people, “belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises, and the patriarchs, and from them comes the Christ” v4-5. “God blessed forever”. Matthew 14 records an incredible miracle of Jesus: ‘the feeding of the five thousand’ with five loaves and two fish. Just as Jesus blessed, “the five loaves and the two fish”, we also trust his blessing on our feeble efforts.
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time – August 9, 2026
Readings: Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b Romans 10:5-15 Matthew 14:22-33
WONDERFUL SAVIOUR
As we continue to follow the thread of the patriarchs, we find Rachel in difficult ‘labour’ while giving birth to Benjamin, and she expiring in the process. Approximately twenty-three years later, the 180-year-old Isaac died, and the focus then shifts on to Joseph. On his father’s instructions, Joseph was sent to check that ‘all was well’ with his brothers who were away “pasturing” (sheep) Genesis 37:12-14. Joseph, being Jacob’s favourite rendered him very unpopular with his older brothers; in fact, “they hated him” v4. This jealously lead them in murderous thoughts but his brothers, Reuben and Judah, persuaded them to, instead, sell Joseph to a caravan of Midianites heading for Egypt (vv17-28). Notice the potential of a jealous heart for all sorts of sin, including murder. In Psalm 105 we are given excellent words and helpful reminders of God’s goodness and reasons to praise him: “Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles and the judgments he uttered… he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who had been sold as a slave” vv5, 17. “Praise the LORD!” In Romans 10, Paul reminds us of the centrality of God’s Word in our lives and communities: “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” v8. He emphasises the importance and beauty of the work of gospel-proclamation: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” v15. Our gospel reading today, presents another of Jesus supernatural acts i.e. he walks on the surface of choppy waters. May our response to him be akin to that of his disciples: “those in the boat worshiped him, saying, truly you are the Son of God.” V33.
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time – August 16, 2026
Readings: Genesis 45:1-15 Psalm 133 Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 Matthew 15:10-28
GOD’S GOOD AND PERFECT WILL
On hearing of Joseph’s supposed death, Jacob was inconsolable (Genesis 37:31-35). In fact, we know, as the lying brothers knew, Joseph was not dead but sold into slavery in Egypt; into Potiphar’s household. While serving Potiphar’s wife, she falsely accused Joseph of inappropriate behaviour which resulted in his imprisonment. While in prison, God demonstrated much favour towards him and, due to his successful interpretation of the Pharoh’s dream, he was released and appointed to the equivalent of Prime Minister of Egypt. The interpretation of the Pharoh’s dream was a prediction of a severe famine and Joseph was given full charge of the nation’s preparations. The famine was not confined to Egypt but had spread to Joseph’s former home. His brothers, unaware of Joseph’s position, came to Egypt for food, and it is here that today’s text begins. Following a number of interactions with his brothers, Joseph, emotionally, revealed his true identity to them (45:1-3). In revealing himself, he said: “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt” v4 and then incredibly, put them at ease with the amazing words of verses 5-8. Joseph was wonderfully convinced that God’s good and perfect will had been the outcome the brothers’ cruel intentions. He then invited the whole family to move, under his protection, to Egypt. What a wonderful scene this reunion portrays. Despite the horrific jealousy and lies of the brothers, they, ‘warts and all’, were family: “How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1. May God help us to remember that in our communities. In Romans 11, Paul continues to press his point on the situation regarding his fellow-Jews by reminding the church at Rome that God had not finished with them: “God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew” 11.2a. We witnessed, in Jacob’s family, the carnage that the evil intentions of the heart can create. It was Jermiah that said: “The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse” Jeremiah 17:9 Jesus told his disciples that: “out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander” Matthew 15:19. A prayer: Lord help us to, in the words of Proverbs 4, “keep (our) your heart (s) with all vigilance.”
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time – August 23, 2026
Readings: Exodus 1:8 – 2:10 Psalm 124 Romans 12:1-8 Matthew 16:13-20
DELIVERANCE
In last week’s Genesis reading we saw Joseph inviting the whole family to move to Egypt. His father was fearful of the move, but God reassured him and told him: “do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there” Genesis 46:3. Approximately seventy five people of Jacob’s household entered Egypt (see Acts 7:14) and settled in Goshen. After seventeen years in Egypt, Jacob died at age one hundred and forty-seven, and Joseph dies later at the age of one hundred and ten. According to Exodus 1:7, “the Israelites were fruitful and prolific; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.” V8 introduces an ominous tone to the narrative: “Now a new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph.” In Genesis 15:13, “the Lord said to Abram, know this for certain, that your offspring shall be aliens in a land that is not theirs and shall be slaves there, and they shall be oppressed for four hundred years.” And that is exactly what the Hebrew people experienced at this time at the hands of the Egyptians. “… made their lives bitter with hard servitude…. They were ruthless in all the tasks that they imposed on them.” On learning that the Hebrews continued to thrive, Pharoh decided to eliminate every newborn Hebrew male by throwing them into the Nile. This is where we witness the incredible sovereign plan of God at work. One of the Hebrew babies, Moses, had been chosen by God to survive and later, lead his people. The deliverance of God’s people had commenced. We praise God for his intervention in the affairs of men and their cruelty. Were it not for the Lord, theses slaves and our whole future as people in need of a Saviour would have been lost: “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side… we have escaped like a bird from the snare of the hunters; the snare is broken, and we have escaped… our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth” Psalm 124:1, 7, 8. In today’s Epistle reading from Romans 12, Paul reminds us that we are: “in one body (with) many members” v4. In most of his epistles, Paul places much emphasis on the essentiality of the kingdom-way in the fellowship of believers. In the light of Peter’s revelation in Matthew 16:16-17, imagine what it must have been like to keep quiet Jesus’ Messiahship (v20). We thank God that we are now free to share ‘the greatest story ever told’.
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – August 30, 2026
Readings: Exodus 3:1-15 Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c Romans 12:9-21 Matthew 16:21-28
YAHWEH/JEHOVAH
In this last Sunday of August, we meet the now grown-up Moses. Affronted at the sight of an Egyptian beating-up a Hebrew slave, Moses angrily reacted and killed the Egyptian. As a result, and in fear of his own life, he fled to Midian, a place beyond Egyptian territory. While there, he married the priest of Midian’s daughter, Zipporah, and fathered a son, Gershom. The Hebrew people had been calling out to God for deliverance, resulting in: “God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Exodus 2:24. In preparing for their deliverance, God called Moses for the task while he was out “keeping” the sheep. God introduced himself from the ‘burning bush’ as: “the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” He informed Moses that having, “observed the misery of my people…I have come down to deliver them…” 3:7-8. This deliverance was to include their possession of the ‘promised land’ (3:8b). He also informed Moses that he, Moses, was to be the ‘human’ face of this deliverance (v10). Moses was to tell the Hebrews that “I AM WHO I AM” had sent him. Our reading from Psalm 10, calls God’s people, including ourselves, to give thanks to him for his deeds including his blessing of the patriarchs and the Hebrews’ deliverance from Egypt. Let us make our own of the closing words of our reading: “Praise the LORD!” Psalm 105:45b. In Romans 12, Paul continues with his emphasis on the kingdom-way among Jesus-followers. This passage, Romans 12: 9-21, reads as the complete opposite of the ways of our current culture. May God grant to us both the honesty for failure-confession, and the grace to pursue this kingdom-way: “Love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour” Romans 12.10. We once again see the counter-cultural kingdom-way in Jesus’ words and teaching: “those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world…” A prayer: Lord of the church, please help us to smuggle Jesus and his ‘upside-down’ way, back in. Amen!
