19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

09th August 2026
Lectionary Readings: 1Kings 9:9a, 10-13a; Psalm 85:9, 10,11-12,13-14; Rom. 9:1-5; Matt.14:22-33
Theme: We will hear and we will do.

Let us look at the first reading for this Sunday taken from 1 Kings 19. Threatened with death, the prophet Elijah must flee and experiences a real agony that recalls that of Moses (); it also reminds us of the agony of Jesus, and like Jesus, Elijah is strengthened by an angel. He then journeys to the mountain of the covenant. Here the Lord shows himself to be the supreme God by means of impressive phenomena, but he also shows himself to be close to his servant in the form of a light breeze; he strengthens Elijah and reconfirms him in his mission as defender of the faith. The forty-day journey of Elijah to Horeb has a place in the Lenten liturgy, as do Moses’ forty days on Horeb both leading to Jesus’40-days in the desert.
Why would the first reading be chosen with the Gospel passage of the calming of the storm from Matthew 14? Within the Gospel narrative itself there are many contrasts: the turmoil of the sea and the terror of the disciples with the calmness of Jesus walking on the stormy sea and his calming of the sea; the terror of the disciples at seeing ‘the man’ walking on the water and thinking him to be a ghost and then when Jesus has brought calmness, they worship him as “Truly you are the Son of God”. A further contrast is Peter’s interaction with Jesus: all eager to walk on the water to Jesus and then taking his eyes off Jesus and being more aware of the storm and his fear and sinking and needing help – “Lord, save me!” The last contrast which links with our first reading is the storm and turmoil within and without the disciples and Elijah, and then the calm which Jesus brings as does the Lord God in the ‘still small voice’. In the Gospel account Jesus says to the disciples:“Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid”, while in 1Kings 19 the Lord God says: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” – why are you here? He is running away because his life is in danger!

The second reading from Romans is problematic because it stops before Paul’s full message regarding his fellow Jews. A note from the “Spirit -filled Life Bible” NKJV on Romans 9:1 -11:36 says: “Can God be just even if so many of God’s Old Covenant nation, the Jews, are lost? After this long demonstration of the way God’s righteousness is preserved in the Gospel; and yet sinners can be saved, another question arises: How can we say that God is righteous or just, if according to the gospel, one must trust in Christ in order to be saved? This would mean that many Jews who have not trusted in Christ are lost. But then how could God be true to his promises to the Jews as his people? Paul answers this question in chapters 9-11.” The second reading for this Sunday would need deep explanation so as not to allow the hearers to think the Jews are lost!
And so, we move to our Psalm 85. What ‘qualities’ of God are proclaimed: kindness, salvation, peace, faithfulness and righteousness. What is required of us to be on the path God provides for us? We need to listen, adore and obey the Lord our God with our whole heart. “We will hear and we will do.”

For Reflection and Discussion:1. Where is God calling me in the readings of today? 2. How am I going to hear and do?
www.biblegateway.comBibliography: Hayford, Jack (gen. ed.) Spirit Filled Life Bible(Nashville: 1991); King, Nicholas. TheNew Testament(Great Britain: 2004); NCB

This week’s Sunday Liturgy Commentary was prepared by
Bernadette Teresa Chellew, KZN, South Africa, Bat Kolalumna 2008

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