An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - August 23, 2026

“Upon This Rock I Will Build My Church”

Our readings for this Sunday teach us the foundation of the office of Pope (Papa / Father) and its ancient Jewish roots. The office of Pope, granted to Peter, is a direct commission by Jesus. However, it also has its roots in the Jewish royal office of ‘al Bayit” or “father over the house”.

Our first reading (Isaiah 20:19-23)is the account of the replacing of Shebna as master of the palace (of the kingdom of Judah) with Eliakim. In this passage, we hear virtually the same duties and authorities that are given to Simon Peter by Jesus. His is the father to the people, he has authority over them, he is second only to the king, has the “key of the House of David”, and has the power to open and to close—bind and loose. Even the vestments of robe, sash, and keys remain today with our Pope.

In our Epistle reading (Romans 11:33-36), St. Paul concludes his long lament that he is heartbroken at the rejection of Jesus by his brethren but sees it as God’s pathway to including the Gentiles in his salvation plan. Paul celebrates the wisdom of God’s plan of salvation and can only marvel at the "inscrutable judgements" of the Lord. The wisdom of God’s plan for salvation is so far beyond our understanding, we can only marvel at its invitation to faith. Glory to God!

In our Gospel reading (Matthew 16:13—20), Jesus went to the region of Caesarea Philippi and asked His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?". Many are not lost to the irony that Jesus went to Caesarea Philippi, a prominent monument to King Caesar, to ask this question. Their responses indicated that the people understood that Jesus was no ordinary man, at least on a level with the prophets of old. Peter's response was that Jesus was not only the Messiah, the Anointed One, but He is the “Son of the living God”. Jesus appointed Peter to the office of prime minister of His Church on earth and gave him the “keys to the kingdom of heaven”, with the same powers and authority granted to the ancient ‘al Bayit’ or ‘Father Over the House’ of the kingdom of Judah.

Imagine what would have happened to Christianity if the office granted to Peter had ended when he died and there was no succession, no continuance of the role of Jesus’ designated representative on earth.

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An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - August 16, 2026

“My House Shall Be Called A House Of Prayer For All Peoples”

Our readings for this Sunday teach us about the wideness of God’s mercy—that one day, all peoples, all nations will be included in the Kingdom of God. But there was an order to salvation in that first Israel, then the Gentiles.

In our first reading (Isaiah 56:1,6-7), the prophet Isaiah tells of the future time when all peoples (including all Gentiles) who "join themselves to the Lord" will be welcomed into the house of the Lord. In biblical language, the term “nations” or “peoples” usually refers to the Gentile, non-Jewish world. It is a time when all people, Jew and non-Jew, will worship the Lord and minister to the Lord equally.

In our Epistle reading (Romans 11:13-15, 29-32), St. Paul is writing to the mixed Church in Rome of Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians. In this passage, Paul describes the duality of his mission. Yes, he is the “Apostle to the Gentiles” but also so that they will serve as an example to his fellow Jews—”I glory in my ministry in order to make my race jealous and thus save some of them.” If you remember in last week’s Epistle, St. Paul talked about his anguish that his fellow Jews rejected Jesus as the Christ. So yes, his mission is to the Gentile world, but he never loses sight of his desire to bring Christ to his fellow Jews.

Our Gospel reading (Matthew 15:21-28), is the seemingly rude transaction between a Canaanite (Gentile) woman and Jesus, who ignored her plea for help; and at one point even likening her to a dog. But her faith and persistence triumphed and Jesus granted her request to save her daughter from the demon. Jesus used the encounter as a teaching moment to highlight that there is an order to salvation—Israel first, Gentiles second. This Canaanite woman, in a sense, modeled Isaiah’s prophesy in our first reading, in that she joins herself to the Lord, and thus is welcomed by Jesus. Jesus also used her as an example in patience and persistence in prayer.

Most of our ancestors were once Gentiles (non-Jews) who worshiped other gods. And at some point, through the efforts of St. Paul and so many others, and the courageous witness of the martyrs, they came to "join themselves to the Lord". And thus we have come into the wideness of God's mercy. May we lead others to that same mercy through our example and witness.

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An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - August 9, 2026

“Take Courage, It Is I; Do Not Be Afraid”

This Sunday, our readings describe for us two theophanies, or manifestations, of God. God is in the “tiny whispering sound” in our first reading. He also appears to the apostles walking on the water as He calms the raging sea.

Our first reading (1 Kings 19:9,11-13)is the story of Elijah’s journey to Mount Horeb, which began as a flight from the evil queen Jezebel. The prophet made his solitary way to Mount Horeb where the Lord had once appeared to Moses and the Israelites. Elijah was told to “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” God appeared to Elijah, but not in the wind, or earthquake, or the fire as He did with Moses. God appeared in the “tiny whispering sound”.

In our Epistle reading (Romans 9:1-5), St. Paul shares his anguish over many of his brethren who had rejected Jesus. The Israelites were God’s chosen people. The final and greatest gift to these chosen people was the Messiah, one of their own flesh. As Paul wrote, “I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people…”

Our Gospel reading (Matthew 14:22-33)is the account of Jesus walking on the raging sea, immediately following the miracle of feeding the five thousand. It is a clear manifestation of Jesus’ divinity and He is recognized as such by the apostles in the boat as they proclaim, “truly, you are the Son of God.” An additional level is Peter’s exuberance as he walked on the water to Jesus—until he was overcome by his doubt and fear.

He took his eyes off Jesus and paid more mind to the raging storm around him. That’s when he began to sink, but a simple call to his Master—”Jesus save me” was all it took to be rescued.  We are reminded that God can come to us as a “tiny whispering sound” or in the midst of the raging storm around us, saying “take courage, it is I, do not be afraid.” We look for God in both places. We can learn from Peter’s faith as he got out of the boat and walked to Jesus. We can also relate to his lack of faith as he began to doubt and sink. How often do we have that same sinking feeling when we take our eyes off Jesus? We can also lament, as Peter did in our Epistle, about loved ones who may have rejected Christ. We can only trust in Jesus, that He is there in the midst of their storm, saying to them, “Take courage, it is I.”

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An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings - August 2, 2026

“They All Ate And Were Satisfied”

Our scripture readings today are about God’s desire to give us nourishment—both spiritual and physical. Today’s Gospel story of the feeding of the five thousand underscores Jesus’ concern for His loved ones.

In our first reading (Isaiah 55:1-3), Isaiah used the imagery of a wonderful banquet to drive home the invitation for all peoples to return to the Lord. “Thus says the LORD: All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat…” God promises that He will renew the everlasting covenant He declared with David centuries before—”I will raise up an offspring after you . . . I will establish his kingdom” (2 Samuel 7:12).

In our Epistle reading (Romans 8:35,37-39), St. Paul teaches us that no person and no thing will ever be able to separate us from the love of Christ. There is no calamity we could ever face and no enemy that would ever be stronger than God’s love. As Paul writes, ”no anguish, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or the sword.” Nothing! God’s love is all conquering!

In our Gospel reading (Matthew 14:13-21), we hear the familiar story of Jesus feeding the five thousand people after a long day of heedfully listening to His teaching. When Jesus saw the vast crowd, “He was moved with pity for them and He cured their sick.” It was a deserted place and He wanted to feed them but five loaves and two fish was all they had. So Jesus had them all sit down. “Taking the five loaves and two fish, and looking up to heaven, He said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crows. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over — Twelve wicker baskets full.” Many see the Eucharistic overtones to this event that were similar and perhaps a precursor to Christ’s own first Eucharist at the Last Supper.

We often disregard God’s love or concern for us or don’t believe God is even aware of our sufferings and pain. Sometimes, it’s hard to see through the pains of our daily lives to imagine a God who is intimately aware of every detail of our lives. Our readings today use the imagery of being fed to the point of overabundance to reassure us that no matter what, God loves us, is aware of our pain, and will never be separated from us.

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An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - July 26, 2026

“The kingdom of heaven is like . . . .”

In today's Gospel reading, we hear three more parables of Jesus. The first two compare the Kingdom of Heaven to a priceless treasure, so valuable that one would give up everything to possess it. The third parable is like the wheat and the weeds of last week. The good and the bad (fish) are allowed to exist together until the final judgement. At that time, the righteous will be gathered and the wicked thrown away.

In our first reading (1 Kings 3:5, 7-12), we hear of King Solomon being visited in a dream by God, telling him he could have whatever he asked for. Showing a maturity that belied his young age, he asked not for riches or power or for a long life but for “an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.” God was pleased with his request and said to Solomon, “I give you a heart so wise and understanding that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you."

In our Epistle reading (Romans 8:28-30), St. Paul describes the Christian vocation as designed and destined by God. For those who love God, He “called according to His purpose . . . to be conformed to the image of His Son…. Those He called, He also justified; and those He justified He also glorified. “

In our Gospel reading (Matthew 13:44-52), we hear the final three parables of Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel. Like a pearl of great price or buried treasure, one who understands the true value of the Kingdom of God will do whatever he or she must to obtain it. The Kingdom of God is also like a net thrown into the sea. The fish are separated into the good and the bad.

At the end of today’s Gospel passage Jesus said, “the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old." Some say this refers to the teachings of Jesus (the new) and the law of Moses and the prophets (the old). It is the confluence of these two realities that continue to drive our Church teachings and culture to this day.

Our readings today help illustrate that our treasure is both in the old testament and the new, especially as the old is interpreted and fulfilled in the new. The old testament is now understood in light of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. May we treasure both.

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