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READINGS FOR SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2026
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A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
(51:1-6).
“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord; look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, that I might bless him and multiply him. For the Lord comforts Zion; he comforts all her waste places, and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song. Give attention to me, my people, and give ear to me, my nation; for a law will go out from me, and I will set my justice for a light to the peoples. My righteousness draws near, my salvation has gone out, and my arms will judge the peoples; the coastlands hope for me and for my arm they wait. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be dismayed.”
Psalm 138. Confitebor tibi.
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I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord,
with my whole heart; *
even before the gods
will I sing praise unto thee.
2 I will worship toward thy holy temple,
and praise thy Name,
because of thy loving-kindness and truth; *
or thou hast magnified thy Name,
and thy word, above all things.
3 When I called upon thee, thou heardest me; *
and enduedst my soul with much strength.
4 All the kings of the earth shall praise thee,
O Lord; *
for they have heard the words of thy mouth.
5 Yea, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, *
that great is the glory of the Lord.
6 For though the Lord be high,
yet hath he respect unto the lowly; *
as for the proud, he beholdeth them afar off.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
yet shalt thou refresh me; *
thou shalt stretch forth thy hand
upon the furiousness of mine enemies,
and thy right hand shall save me.
8 The Lord shall make good
his loving-kindness toward me; *
yea, thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever;
despise not then the works of thine own hands.
A Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the
Romans (11:25-36).
Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
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The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to St. Matthew (16:13-20)
​Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
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