Saint of the day · August 9
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
19ème dimanche du Temps Ordinaire (semaine III du Psautier)
Liturgical colour : Green
The Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time falls within the second half of the liturgical year, when the Church focuses on Christ’s teachings and the life of His followers. Ordinary Time is not ‘ordinary’ in the sense of being unremarkable, but rather comes from the word 'ordinal,' meaning 'counted time,' and marks the ongoing journey of faith through the weeks that do not fall under a specific season (like Advent or Easter). On this day, the readings typically invite the faithful to deepen their trust in God amid the challenges of daily life. For example, the Gospel often recounts stories such as Jesus walking on the water or calling Peter to step out in faith, reflecting how the Christian journey involves both profound moments of revelation and steady perseverance.
This Sunday emphasizes perseverance in faith, prayer, and the importance of recognizing God in the quiet moments of life, echoing the story of Elijah encountering God not in the wind or earthquake, but in the gentle breeze. The Church marks these Sundays to continually remind the faithful to grow in discipleship, drawing strength from the Eucharist and the community. The green liturgical color signifies hope, renewal, and the ongoing growth of the Church between the high points of the liturgical calendar. In keeping ordinary yet grace-filled Sundays, Catholics are called to find God not just in the extraordinary, but in the faithful living out of each day.
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The liturgical day
Mass readings
“Stand on the mountain before the Lord” — 1 R 19, 9a.11-13a
In those days,
when the prophet Elijah arrived at Horeb, the mountain of God,
he entered a cave
and spent the night there.
The Lord said:
“Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord,
for the Lord is about to pass by.”
As the Lord approached,
there was a hurricane, so strong and violent
that it split mountains and shattered rocks,
but the Lord was not in the hurricane;
and after the hurricane, there was an earthquake,
but the Lord was not in the earthquake;
and after the earthquake, a fire,
but the Lord was not in that fire;
and after the fire, the sound of a gentle whisper.
As soon as he heard it,
Elijah covered his face with his cloak,
came out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
– The word of the Lord.
Ps 84 (85), 9ab-10, 11-12, 13-14
I listen: What will the Lord God say?
What he says is peace for his people and his faithful ones.
His salvation is near to those who fear him,
and glory will dwell in our land.
Love and truth shall meet,
justice and peace shall embrace;
truth will spring up from the earth
and justice will look down from heaven.
The Lord will grant his bounty,
and our land will yield its fruit.
Justice will walk before him,
and mark out the way with its steps.
“For the Jews, my brothers, I would wish to be accursed” — Rm 9, 1-5
Brothers and sisters,
it is the truth I speak in Christ,
I do not lie,
my conscience bears witness in the Holy Spirit:
I have great sorrow in my heart,
an unceasing pain.
I myself, for the sake of the Jews, my own kindred,
would wish to be accursed, cut off from Christ:
they are indeed Israelites,
they have the adoption, the glory, the covenants,
the law, the worship, the promises of God;
they have the patriarchs,
and from them, according to the flesh, Christ was born,
he who is above all,
God blessed forever. Amen.
– The word of the Lord.
“Command me to come to you on the water” — Mt 14, 22-33
Immediately after feeding the crowd in the wilderness,
Jesus made the disciples get into the boat
and go on ahead to the other side,
while he dismissed the crowds.
After he had sent them away,
he went up the mountain by himself to pray.
When evening came, he was there alone.
The boat was already far from the land,
it was being battered by the waves,
because the wind was against it.
Towards the end of the night, Jesus came towards them
walking on the sea.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea,
they were terrified.
They said:
“It's a ghost.”
Filled with fear, they cried out.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them:
“Take courage! It is I; do not be afraid!”
Peter then spoke up:
“Lord, if it is really you,
command me to come to you on the water.”
Jesus said to him:
“Come!”
Peter got out of the boat
and walked on the water toward Jesus.
But, seeing how strong the wind was, he became afraid
and, as he began to sink, he shouted:
“Lord, save me!”
Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand, caught him
and said to him:
“You of little faith,
why did you doubt?”
And when they got into the boat,
the wind died down.
Then those who were in the boat
fell down before him, and said to him:
“Truly, you are the Son of God!”
– Let us acclaim the word of God.
Liturgical texts: © AELF — aelf.org