SUNDAY, JULY 26TH, 2026​

9TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

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INTRODUCTION​

As Solomon prays for wisdom, we seek to more deeply know the treasures of
     faith. In today’s gospel Jesus offers everyday images that reveal to us the reign
     of God: a tree that becomes a sheltering home, yeast that penetrates and
     expands, a treasured pearl, a net that gains a great catch. Even as we seek the
     riches of God’s reign, the great surprise is that God’s grace finds us first!

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Beloved and sovereign God, through the death and resurrection of your Son you
     bring us into your kingdom of justice and mercy. By your Spirit, give us your wisdom,
     that we may treasure the life that comes from Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.​

FIRST READING

1ST KINGS 3:5-12
Because Solomon did not ask for long life, riches, or the defeat of his enemies,
     God gave him what he asked for: wisdom to govern the people well.

5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said,
     “Ask what I should give you.” 6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and
     steadfast love to your servant my father David because he walked before you in
     faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you, and you
     have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on
     his throne today. 7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in
     place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go
     out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have
     chosen, a great people so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted.
     9 Give your servant, therefore, an understanding mind to govern your people,
     able to discern between good and evil, for who can govern this great people of yours?”

     10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 God said to him, “Because
     you have asked this and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or for the
     life of your enemies but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is
     right, 12 I now do according to your word. Indeed, I give you a wise and
     discerning mind; no one like you has been before you, and no one like you shall
     arise after you.”

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PSALM

PSALM 119:129-136
(Response) When your word is opened, it gives light and understanding. (Ps. 119:130)

129 Your decrees are wonderful;
therefore I obey them with all my heart.
130 When your word is opened it gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.
131 I open my mouth and pant
because I long for your commandments.
132 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
as you always do to those who love your name.
(Response) When your word is opened, it gives light and understanding. (Ps. 119:130)

133 Order my footsteps in your word;
let no iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Rescue me from those who oppress me,
and I will keep your commandments.
135 Let your face shine upon your servant
and teach me your statutes.
136 My eyes shed streams of tears,
because people do not keep your teaching.
(Response) When your word is opened, it gives light and understanding. (Ps. 119:130)

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SECOND READING

ROMANS 8:26-39
These words celebrate the depth of God’s actions for us. Through Christ’s death
     for us and the activity of the Spirit praying for us, we are fused to God’s love
     poured out in Jesus Christ. Nothing, not even death itself, is able to separate us
     from such incredible divine love.

26 The Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we
     ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words. 27 And
     God, who searches hearts, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the
     Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

     28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who
     are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also
     predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be
     the firstborn within a large family. 30 And those whom he predestined he also
     called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified
     he also glorified.

     31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against
     us? 32 He who did not withhold his own Son but gave him up for all of us, how
     will he not with him also give us everything else? 33 Who will bring any charge
     against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ
     who died, or rather, who was raised, who is also at the right hand of God, who
     also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will
     affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword?
     36 As it is written,
     “For your sake we are being killed all day long;
     we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”
     37 No, in all these things we are more than victorious through him who loved us.
     38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor
     things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor
     anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in
     Christ Jesus our Lord.​​

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​​​​GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia. Many will come from east and west and will eat in the kingdom of heaven. Alleluia. (Matt. 8:11)

GOSPEL READING

MATTHEW 13:31-33, 44-52
   Throughout Matthew’s gospel, Jesus and his disciples proclaim the good news 
     that “the kingdom of heaven is near!” Here, Jesus offers several brief parables
     that explore the implications of this announcement for people’s lives.

31 [Jesus] put before [the crowds] another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is
     like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field;32 it is the smallest
     of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a
     tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

     33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a
     woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”

     44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found
     and reburied; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

     45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls;
     46 on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

     47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and
     caught fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and
     put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the
     age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and
     throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

     51 “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” 52 And he said to
     them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple in the kingdom of
     heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is
     new and what is old.”

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BULLETIN FOR SUNDAY, JULY 26TH, 2026