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Notable Feast Days this Week:

July 31 - Ignatius of Loyola, 1556 (Roman Catholic)
July 31 - Joseph of Arimathea, Matthew 27:57 (Anglican/Eastern/Lutheran)
August 1 - Nicholas of Japan, 1912 (Eastern Calendars)
August 3 - Nicodemus, John 3:1(Roman Catholic Calendars)
August 3 - Lydia, Acts 16:4 (Roman Catholic Calendars)
August 6 - The Transfiguration of Our Lord (Syriac Orthodox, Indian Orthodox, Revised Julian calendars within Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, and Anglican Calendars)

Revised Common Lectionary

Genesis 32:22-31
Psalm 17:1-7, 15
Isaiah 55:1-5
Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21
Romans 9:1-5
Matthew 14:13-21

Daily Readings (RCL)
Liturgical Color - Green

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- The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost - August 6, 2017 (Year A)

God's Mercy

"Jacob deeply desired that God would bless him (Genesis 32:22-32). We can count on God to watch over those who love him with compassion and mercy (Psalm 17 and Psalm 145); Paul mourned that so many of the Jews did not acknowledge Christ (Romans 9:1-5). Jesus cares for our earthly needs and has power over all things, as evinced in the feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21)." -Thomas Oden

Psalms of the Week

Scripture Readings

Psalm 17:1-7, 15

Hear me, Lord, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer—it does not rise from deceitful lips. Let my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right...I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. Show me the wonders of your great love...

Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing...

Commentary on Psalm 17
Augustine, Calvin, Spurgeon, Rev. Dave Hatcher, Thomas Aquinas

Genesis 32:22-31
Jacob wrestles with the angel and receives a blessing

Isaiah 55:1-5
Eat and drink that which satisfies

Romans 9:1-5
The glory of God's people in Israel

Matthew 14:13-21
Jesus feeds five thousand

Daily Readings
Revised Common Lectionary

Daily Readings
Book of Common Prayer

The Entire Bible in One Year

Chronological

"The Bible Project" Videos
An Introduction to the Psalms
Genesis 12-50
Romans 5-16
Matthew 14-28

The Transfiguration of Our Lord

Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and a number of other Christian traditions will celebrate The Transfiguration of Our Lord on August 6th.

A Roman Catholic Perspective

An Orthodox Perspective

"The Symbolic Meaning of the Transfiguration" by Rod Dreher

"The Transfiguration" by R.C. Sproul

"Christ's Transfigured Face" - A sermon by Charles Spurgeon

"The Taboric Light: Feast of Transfiguration" - An article by Dale Coulter

Prayer

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. -The Book of Common Prayer

Contemplative Prayer (Click to View)

Daily Prayer (Click to View)

Spotify Playlist

Singing Psalms and Hymns

O My God and King and Savior (Psalm 145) | Tune: HOLY MANNA - Praise the Savior, Now and Ever |Leadsheet

Every Living Thing (Psalm 145) | By Lacey Brown | Leadsheet and Commentary

I Will Lift Up Your Name (Psalm 145) | By S. Agrisano and Tom Tomaszek | Leadsheet

Traces of Your Love (Psalm 17)| By Sarah Majorins | Leadsheet

Psalm 17B (Lord Bend Your Ear) | By Jeffrey Honore | Page 86 in Psalms for All Seasons

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling | Lyrics by Charles Wesley / Tune by John Zundel| Leadsheet

Nothing but the Blood of Jesus |By Robert Lowly| Leadsheets and Lyrics

Better is One Day | By Matt Redman | Leadsheet

Psalm 17 and 145 Anglican Chant | Anglican Chant Psalter

Psalm 17 Metrical Options

Psalm 145 Metrical Options

Hymn Suggestions for The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost from Hymnary.org

Commentary on Matthew 14:13-21

"Now though Christ does not every day multiply our bread, or feed men without the labor of their hands or the cultivation of their fields, the advantage of this narrative extends even to us. If we do not perceive that it is the blessing of God which multiplies the corn, that we may have a sufficiency of food, the only obstacle is, our own indolence and ingratitude. That, after we have been supported by the annual produce, there remains seed for the following year, and that this could not have happened but for an increase from heaven, each of us would easily perceive, were he not hindered by that very depravity which blinds the eyes both of the mind and of the flesh, so as not to see a manifest work of God. Christ intended to declare that, as all things have been delivered into his hands by the Father, so the food which we eat proceeds from his grace..."
- Cyril of Alexandria

More Historical Commentary
(View and Download)

Music for Listening

Thematic Art

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