First Reading

1 Kings 19:9, 11-13 (JB)

A reading from the first book of the Kings

Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord God.

When Elijah reached Horeb, the mountain of God, he went into the cave and spent the night in it. Then he was told, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.’ Then the Lord himself went by. There came a mighty wind, so strong it tore the mountains and shattered the rocks before the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake. But the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire. But the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there came the sound of a gentle breeze. And when Elijah heard this, he covered his face with his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 Kings 19:9, 11-13 (NRSV)

A reading from the first book of Kings

When Elijah reached Horeb, the mountain of God,

he came to a cave, and spent the night there.

Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying,

“Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord,

for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Now there was a great wind,

so strong that it was splitting mountains

and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord,

but the Lord was not in the wind;

and after the wind 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 sound of sheer silence.

When Elijah heard it,

he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out

and stood at the entrance of the cave.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 84:9-14 (JB)

R. Lord, show us your mercy and love,

and grant us your salvation.

I will hear what the Lord God has to say,

a voice that speaks of peace.

His help is near for those who fear him

and his glory will dwell in our land. R.

Mercy and faithfulness have met;

justice and peace have embraced.

Faithfulness shall spring from the earth

and justice look down from heaven. R.

The Lord will make us prosper

and our earth shall yield its fruit.

Justice shall march before him

and peace shall follow his steps. R.

Second Reading

Romans 9:1-5 (JB)

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans

I would willingly be condemned if it could help my people.

What I want to say is no pretence; I say it in union with Christ – it is the truth – my conscience in union with the Holy Spirit assures me of it too. What I want to say is this: my sorrow is so great, my mental anguish so endless, I would willingly be condemned and be cut off from Christ if it could help my brothers of Israel, my own flesh and blood. They were adopted as sons, they were given the glory and the covenants; the Law and the ritual were drawn up for them, and the promises were made to them. They are descended from the patriarchs and from their flesh and blood came Christ who is above all, God for ever blessed! Amen.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Romans 9:1-5 (NRSV)

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans

I am speaking the truth in Christ.

I am not lying;

my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit.

I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.

For I could wish that I myself were accursed

and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people,

my kindred according to the flesh.

They are Israelites,

and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants,

the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises;

to them belong the patriarchs,

and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah,

who is over all,

God be blessed forever. Amen.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation

Ps 129:5 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

I hope in the Lord,

I trust in his word.

Alleluia!

Ps 130:5 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

I hope in the Lord,

I trust in his word.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Matthew 14:22-33 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Command me to come to you over the water.

Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he would send the crowds away. After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea, for there was a head-wind. In the fourth watch of the night he went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified. ‘It is a ghost’ they said, and cried out in fear. But at once Jesus called out to them, saying ‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.’ It was Peter who answered. ‘Lord’, he said ‘if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink. ‘Lord! Save me!’ he cried. Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. ‘Man of little faith,’ he said ‘why did you doubt?’ And as they got into the boat the wind dropped. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 14:22-33 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew

Immediately after feeding the crowd

with the five loaves and two fish,

Jesus made the disciples get into the boat

and go on ahead to the other side,

while he dismissed the crowds.

And after he had dismissed the crowds,

he went up the mountain by himself to pray.

When evening came, he was there alone,

but by this time the boat, battered by the waves,

was far from the land,

for the wind was against them.

And early in the morning

Jesus came walking toward them on the sea.

But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea,

they were terrified, saying,

“It is a ghost!”

And they cried out in fear.

But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said,

“Take heart, it is I;

do not be afraid.”

Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you,

command me to come to you on the water.”

Jesus said, “Come.”

So Peter got out of the boat,

started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.

but when he noticed the strong wind.

he became frightened, and beginning to sink,

he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him,

saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

And those in the boat worshipped him, saying,

“Truly you are the Son of God.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Posted in Readings