The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday, August 13, 2023
The Collect:
Through the storms of life, O God, you are with your people in the person of Jesus your Son. Calm our fears and strengthen our faith that we may never doubt his presence among us but proclaim that he is your Son, risen from the dead, living for ever and ever. Amen.
The Old Testament Lesson:
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 KJV
And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.
2Â These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.
3Â Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
4Â And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
12Â And his brethren went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem.
13Â And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.
14Â And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.
15Â And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?
16Â And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.
17Â And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.
18Â And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.
19Â And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.
20Â Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
21Â And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.
22Â And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.
23Â And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;
24Â And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.
25Â And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.
26Â And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?
27Â Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.
28Â Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
The Psalm:
Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b KJV
O give thanks unto the Lord;*
call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.
2Â Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him:*
talk ye of all his wondrous works.
3Â Glory ye in his holy name:*
let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.
4 Seek the Lord, and his strength:*
seek his face evermore.
5Â Remember his marvellous works that he hath done;*
his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
6Â O ye seed of Abraham his servant,*
ye children of Jacob his chosen.
16Â Moreover he called for a famine upon the land:*
he brake the whole staff of bread.
17Â He sent a man before them,*
even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:
18Â Whose feet they hurt with fetters:*
he was laid in iron:
19Â Until the time that his word came:*
the word of the Lord tried him.
20Â The king sent and loosed him;*
even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.
21Â He made him lord of his house,*
and ruler of all his substance:
22Â To bind his princes at his pleasure;*
and teach his senators wisdom.
45Â That they might observe his statutes,*
and keep his laws. Praise ye the Lord.
The Epistle:
Romans 10:5-15 KJV
5Â For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
6Â But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
7Â Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
8Â But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9Â That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10Â For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11Â For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12Â For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13Â For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14Â How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15Â And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
The Gospel:
Matthew 14:22-33 KJV
22Â And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
23Â And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
24Â But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25Â And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26Â And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27Â But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28Â And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29Â And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30Â But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31Â And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
32Â And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
33Â Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.