Ninth Sunday after
Pentecost
The Gospel
reading for this Sunday presents us with the incident of Peter walking on the water. The boat in which the apostles are crossing
the Sea of Galilee is shaken by waves and the winds are contrary. Suddenly the Apostles see Jesus, walking on the sea: terrified,
they think it is a ghost. Jesus reassures them
“Take heart, it is I, have no fear.” To Peter’s
request, “Lord, if it is you, bid me to come to you on the water,” Jesus responds “come.”
In the Epistle reading today, Saint Paul asks: “Do you not know that you are Gods temple and that God ‘s Spirit dwells
in you?”
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The readings below are Sunday, July 21, 2024
Today's Epistle reading: [1 Corinthians
3.9-17]
For we are
God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another
man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which
is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw
— each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the
fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will
receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through
fire.
Do you not
know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you. If any one destroys God's temple, God will destroy him.
For God's temple is holy, and that temple you are.
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Today's Gospel reading: [Matthew 14.22-34]
Then he made the
disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed
the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time
was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the
night he came to them, walking 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 for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying, "Take heart, it is
I; have no fear.”
And Peter
answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water.” He said, "Come." So Peter got out
of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried
out, "Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little
faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying,
"Truly you are the Son of God.”
And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.
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