Year A – Proper 17
Full-text of the Appointed Lessons (RSV and NRSV), with instructions for lectors
August 30 — 14 Pentecost— RCL
ILLUMINATION for the First Lesson
14 Pentecost (Proper 17), Year A, Aug. 30, 2026
Exodus 3:1-15
God calls to Moses from a burning bush, directing him to return to Egypt and lead the chosen people out of slavery.
A reading (lesson) from the Book of Exodus:
(Lead in with) RSV: Now Moses was keeping…; NRSV: Moses was keeping…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian; and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and lo, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, “I will turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.” When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here am I.” Then he said, “Do not come near; put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. Then the LORD said, “I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters; I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring forth my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” He said, “But I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought forth the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God upon this mountain.” Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.'” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’: this is my name for ever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.
New Revised Standard Version
Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.” When the LORD saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” He said further, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. Then the LORD said, “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” He said, “I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.” But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM Who I AM.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.'” God also said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’: This is my name forever, and this my title for all generations.”
ILLUMINATION for the Alternate First Lesson
14 Pentecost (Proper 17), Year A, Aug. 30, 2026
Jeremiah 15:15-21
Jeremiah feels that God has abandoned him, leaving him alone to face the people’s anger. God reassures the prophet that he will be redeemed for preaching the truth.
A reading (lesson) from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah:
(Lead in with) RSV: O Lord, thou knowest…; NRSV: O Lord, you know…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
O LORD, thou knowest; remember me and visit me, and take vengeance for me on my persecutors. In thy forbearance take me not away; know that for thy sake I bear reproach. Thy words were found, and I ate them, and thy words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by thy name, O LORD, God of hosts. I did not sit in the company of merrymakers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone, because thy hand was upon me, for thou hadst filled me with indignation. Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Wilt thou be to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail? Therefore thus says the LORD: “If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them. And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the LORD. I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”
New Revised Standard Version
O LORD, you know; remember me and visit me, and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors. In your forbearance do not take me away; know that on your account I suffer insult. Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts. I did not sit in the company of merrymakers, nor did I rejoice; under the weight of your hand I sat alone, for you had filled me with indignation. Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail. Therefore thus says the LORD: “If you turn back, I will take you back, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them. And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the LORD. I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”
ILLUMINATION for the Second Lesson
14 Pentecost (Proper 17), Year A, Aug. 30, 2026
Romans 12:9-21
Paul exhorts the Christian community at Rome to outdo each other in loving behavior, and to strive to overcome evil with good.
A reading (lesson) from the Letter of Paul to the Romans:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: Let love be genuine…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited. Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
New Revised Standard Version
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
ILLUMINATION for the Gospel Lesson
14 Pentecost (Proper 17), Year A, Aug. 30, 2026
Matthew 16:21-28
Peter tries to lead Jesus away from the suffering of the cross, but Jesus rebukes him and tells the disciples that to find their true life, they must give up everything they cling to.
A reading (lesson) from the Gospel according to Matthew:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: Jesus began to show…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc. If read by an ordained person as the eucharistic gospel, conclude with The gospel of the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men.” Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay every man for what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
New Revised Standard Version
Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.” Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
14 Pentecost — August 30 — BCP
ILLUMINATION for the First Lesson
14 Pentecost (Proper 17), Year A, Aug. 30, 2026
Jeremiah 15:15-21
Jeremiah feels that God has abandoned him, leaving him alone to face the people’s anger. God reassures the prophet that he will be redeemed for preaching the truth.
A reading (lesson) from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah:
(Lead in with) RSV: O Lord, thou knowest…; NRSV: O Lord, you know…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
O LORD, thou knowest; remember me and visit me, and take vengeance for me on my persecutors. In thy forbearance take me not away; know that for thy sake I bear reproach. Thy words were found, and I ate them, and thy words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by thy name, O LORD, God of hosts. I did not sit in the company of merrymakers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone, because thy hand was upon me, for thou hadst filled me with indignation. Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Wilt thou be to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail? Therefore thus says the LORD: “If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them. And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the LORD. I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”
New Revised Standard Version
O LORD, you know; remember me and visit me, and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors. In your forbearance do not take me away; know that on your account I suffer insult. Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts. I did not sit in the company of merrymakers, nor did I rejoice; under the weight of your hand I sat alone, for you had filled me with indignation. Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail. Therefore thus says the LORD: “If you turn back, I will take you back, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them. And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the LORD. I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”
ILLUMINATION for the Second Lesson
14 Pentecost (Proper 17), Year A, Aug. 30, 2026
Romans 12:1-8
Paul urges listeners to offer their whole selves, body and soul, as a thankful response to God’s gift of salvation through Jesus.
A reading (lesson) from the Letter of Paul to the Romans:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: I appeal to you therefore…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him. For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
New Revised Standard Version
I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.
ILLUMINATION for the Gospel Lesson
14 Pentecost (Proper 17), Year A, Aug. 30, 2026
Matthew 16:21-27
Peter tries to lead Jesus away from the suffering of the cross, but Jesus rebukes him and tells the disciples that to find their true life, they must give up everything they cling to.
A reading (lesson) from the Gospel according to Matthew:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: Jesus began to show…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc. If read by an ordained person as the eucharistic gospel, conclude with The gospel of the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men.” Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? For the Son of man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay every man for what he has done.
New Revised Standard Version
Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.”
Scripture quotations labeled NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.
The Living Word | Lectionary Preaching Aids
Exploring the Texts
“There is a better way. Life is short; time is running out — show me the number of my days. Jesus Christ gave his life as a free offering, a ransom for many. He died for the ungodly, forgave his betrayers, and rose from the dead as the first fruits of a new creation.”
“The God of all power and might cuts open a space among temporal things to be and burn. This intrusion is not, however, the destruction of what God has made. ‘For you love all things that exist, and detest none of the things that you have made’ (Wis. 11:24; Collect for Ash Wednesday). The bush remains and is rooted in one sacramental and irrevocable truth. God so loved the world.”
“The spiritual profit here is far more than personal fulfillment or responsible citizenship. It is the reward of a martyr, the life found when life is lost in Christ’s service. It is the part of a person that cannot be exchanged for money or goods, and is developed through self-renunciation and perseverance in the way of the cross.”
Preaching Today
Amy Richter: Cross-Shaped Life
“The cross-shaped nature of a life lived rooted in the ground of God’s goodness and stretching up to the heavens in prayer and praise, while reaching out in love and compassion to others, for most of us takes a daily habit, daily commitment, the daily intention of dedicating ourselves to follow Christ.”
Don Waring: A Farewell to Elms
“To walk the way of Jesus, also known as the way of the cross, always entails loss and painful parting …. Following Jesus into spiritual communion with God will entail observable, measurable, personal sacrifices of worldly goods and comforts.”
John Mason Lock: No Such Compromise
“We try to come up with a settled compromise between the world and our faith, but no such compromise is possible. God is a jealous God. It means he wants all of you, not part.”
Classic Texts
John Donne: We Come Too Soon to the Name
“Disputes in a problematic matter of controversy that is not concerned with foundations must be enemies. And then all enmity must imply irreconcilableness; once enemies, friends never again. We come too soon to the name, and we stand too long upon the thing.”
H.P. Liddon: Conformity to Christ
“Conformity to Christ rising from the tomb, and ascending beyond the stars, is impossible unless there be also conformity with Christ insulted, scourged, scorned, crucified. We cannot select one side of that divine life, and eliminate the other.”
Augustine: Hard and Difficult
“‘If any would come after me, let them deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me.’ The Lord’s command seems hard and difficult. And yet it is not hard and difficult given that it is the command of him who helps us in carrying out what he commands.”
Articles on God’s Name
Jeff Boldt: God’s Secret Name and Our Names
“‘I am’ perfectly describes what God is: that he must exist. My existence is a question mark: Am I? God’s is an assertion: I am! The contrast between my name and God’s Name couldn’t be starker.”
Caleb Congrove: To Blaze His Name Abroad
“I’m not the first to see flame in the Fall colors, or probably even to connect them with the theophanies of Scripture. Euonymus alatus, or winged Euonymus, is a very common garden shrub in my part of the world. I can see four from my back porch. Its Latin name refers to the distinctive ridges on its branches, but it is more usually called a ‘burning bush’ for its red fall foliage. Moses’ encounter in the Bible concerns the revelation of the Name.”
Matt Boulter: What’s in a Name?
“To put it as pointedly as possible, in the Old Testament imagination, nothing could be more important than to protect and promote the reputation of YHWH (especially when relating to the other nations and people groups outside Israel’s borders). Nothing could be more important than reinforcing the truth that the God of Israel is the absolutely ultimate good.”
Articles on Fire
Dane Neufeld: Wildfire and Providence
“In essence, the fire revealed to us the simple truth, but with a renewed clarity, that our lives and indeed our world are in God’s hands. In many cases, it is those who lost everything who have grasped this reality most profoundly, and those of us who lost little have been carried and uplifted by the depth of their faith.”
Graham Kings: Holy Spirit, Remembrancer
“O Holy Spirit,
Cascading water, coursing down the mountainside,
Whirling wind, sweeping up the valley,
Flaming fire, crackling in the hearth,
Soothing oil, seeping into cracks of an old cricket bat,
Fill me.”
Mark Edington: A Fire that Rekindles?
“The water of the font was no match for the inferno that consumed the ancient structure, centuries in the making, in a matter of hours. But with the still-smoldering ruin behind him, and with the shaken archbishop of Paris at his side, President Emmanuel Macron — the embattled leader of that least-faithful great European nation — spoke movingly of the place Notre Dame occupies at the center of the Parisian imagination.”
Articles on Suffering
Jeffrey MacDonald: Suffering in Christian Life
“‘There’s this idea in the church that we’ve moved beyond self-denial,’ Cramer said. ‘That may be a popular conception, but it’s very foreign from the way our prayer book invites us to practice the Christian life.’”
Sarah Cornwall: What an Early Anglican Can Teach Us About Suffering Today
“Amid a series of meditations on sickness as a sudden assailant, the uncertainty of treatment, and bodily misery, it is a call to value and cling to every human life — including the lives of the sick and dying. It is a call, not to brush aside the fear of death, but to let fear and suffering spur us toward a greater love.”
Jeremy Bergstrom: The Martyr’s Death and the Birth of Christ
“This may strike us modern folk as unnecessarily dark and morbid, but consider those of the early Church who joyfully followed St. Stephen’s example as the path to life and new birth. One of the best is St. Ignatius of Antioch, the second-century bishop and martyr, who saw the light of life in the face of imminent suffering.”
