Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost 2026 – August 30

On August 30, we will celebrate the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost 2026 and welcome new members into the Church through baptism, with Deacon Nate Irvine presiding.

This Sunday’s readings focus on the cost of following Christ and the essence of genuine love. Jeremiah expresses his suffering but receives reassurance from God that he will be made a fortified wall of bronze. The psalmist affirms his integrity and his love for the house of God. Paul encourages the Church to embody genuine love by blessing those who persecute us and overcoming evil with good. Jesus candidly tells his disciples that he will suffer and die, and that anyone who wishes to follow him must take up their cross and deny themselves; for those who lose their life for his sake will find it.

Join us for worship in the way that suits you best! You can worship with us in person, via Live Stream, Video Replay, or Podcast.

If You Cannot Join Us In Person for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost 2026!

We recognize that you may not always be able to attend in person; therefore, we provide several virtual options.

Livestream/Playback

Join us live at 8:50 AM for the organ prelude, followed by the service at 9:00 AM. After the livestream ends, you can watch the video replay at any time.

Podcast

Did you know that we are available on all major platforms? Our podcast covers everything from the opening hymn to the sharing of the peace.

The Collect for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

The Readings for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Old Testament: Jeremiah 15:15–21

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.

Epistle: Romans 12:9–21

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.

Gospel: Matthew 16:21–28

From that time on, 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.”

Reflection on the Readings for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost 2026

The Prophet’s Struggle and God’s Answer – Jeremiah 15:15–21

Jeremiah is in deep distress. He has devoted himself to God’s word, stating, “Your words were found, and I consumed them; your words became the joy and delight of my heart.” Yet, despite this commitment, he suffers greatly. He has not associated with those who celebrate and has chosen to live a life set apart, all while feeling the weight of God’s hand upon him. His pain is relentless, and his wound refuses to heal.

In his anguish, Jeremiah expresses his feelings to God with raw honesty, declaring, “Truly, you are like a deceitful brook to me, like waters that fail.” He approached God expecting to find refreshment, sustenance, and relief, but instead, he encountered disappointment. To him, God has become a dry brook, providing nothing when he needs it the most.

This is a significant moment. Jeremiah expresses his despair openly. He does not pretend that faith has made everything simple. He tells God the truth: you have let me down.

God’s response is not a rebuke of Jeremiah’s honesty; instead, it is a call and a promise. He says, “If you turn back, I will take you back, and you will stand before me.” If Jeremiah chooses to return, God will welcome him. God continues, “If you speak what is precious and not what is worthless, you will serve as my messenger.” Jeremiah’s role is to convey the valuable word of God rather than the trivial words of the world.

“The responsibility for conversion lies with them, not with Jeremiah. He doesn’t need to compel people to listen. Jeremiah’s role is simply to speak the word; it is God’s responsibility to draw people in.”

Here’s a clearer version of the text: “And then comes the promise: ‘I will make you a fortified wall of bronze for these people. They will fight against you, but they will not prevail, for I am with you to save you and deliver you,’ says the Lord. ‘I will rescue you from the hand of the wicked and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.'”

Jeremiah will be made strong, like a wall of bronze. People will fight against him, but they will not succeed because God is with him. God will save and deliver him; He will redeem him from the wicked and the ruthless.

This is the response to Jeremiah’s cry. The pain may remain, and the struggle may persist, but he will not be forsaken in it. He will be strengthened and will overcome.

Living with Integrity – Psalm 26:1–8

“Judge my case, O Lord, for I have lived with integrity and have trusted in You without wavering.”

This is not an expression of arrogance or self-righteousness; instead, it is a plea grounded in a life of faithfulness. The psalmist invites God to test him, saying, “Test me, O Lord, and try me; examine my heart and my mind.” The psalmist’s integrity is strong enough to endure scrutiny.

The basis of this integrity is clear: “Your love is always before my eyes; I have walked faithfully with you. I have not associated with the worthless, nor do I consort with the deceitful. I have despised the company of evildoers; I will not sit with the wicked.”

The psalmist has carefully chosen whom to associate with. Faithfulness has resulted in separation from those who might lead him astray. The psalmist has not compromised by sitting with the wicked, no matter how appealing their company may be.

I will wash my hands in innocence, O Lord, so that I may go in procession around your altar, singing a song of thanksgiving and recounting all your wonderful deeds.

Innocence is essential for approaching God’s altar. The psalmist prepares by undergoing a ritual washing, symbolizing moral and spiritual purification. Afterward, the worship includes singing, giving thanks, and recounting God’s wonderful deeds.

The psalm concludes with a heartfelt declaration: “Lord, I love the house where you dwell and the place where your glory resides.” The psalmist’s integrity stems from love—love for God, love for God’s dwelling place, and love for the location where God’s glory is manifested.

Genuine Love and Overcoming Evil – Romans 12:9–21

Paul’s understanding of Christian love is both tangible and challenging. “Let love be sincere; detest what is evil, cling to what is good; love one another with genuine affection; excel in showing honor to each other.”

Genuine love is not merely sentimentality. It involves detesting what is evil and holding firmly to what is good. It means loving one another with genuine affection and striving to honor one another.

“Do not be lazy in your enthusiasm; be passionate in your spirit and serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient during times of suffering, and persist in prayer.” The Christian life involves active involvement, characterized by passion and zeal. It is a journey defined by hope, patience in hardship, and unwavering prayer.

“Support the needs of fellow believers; offer hospitality to strangers.” Love is shown through actions: fulfilling needs, welcoming newcomers, and caring for those in need.

Then comes the most challenging command: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” Not only must you refrain from cursing; you must actively bless. This is love at its most demanding.

“Rejoice with those who are joyful, weep with those who are sad. Live in harmony with each other; do not be arrogant, but associate with the humble; do not pretend to be wiser than you are.”

These daily practices of love include emotional empathy for others, humility, connection with those in need, and a refusal to claim superiority in wisdom.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil; instead, consider what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live peacefully with everyone.

Paul sets a high standard: do not repay evil with evil. Instead, focus on what is noble. Make peace whenever possible. The responsibility lies with us.

“Dearly beloved, do not seek revenge for yourselves, but instead, allow space for God’s wrath; as it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay,’ says the Lord. Instead, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for in doing so, you will heap burning coals on their heads.'”

The final principle is extraordinary: overcome evil with good. Do not seek revenge. Instead, feed your enemies and give them something to drink. This is how we can overcome evil—not by matching force with force, but by breaking the cycle of vengeance through acts of kindness and compassion.

The Cost of Discipleship – Matthew 16:21–28

Jesus clearly tells his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer greatly, be killed, and be raised on the third day. This marks his first explicit statement about his impending passion.

Peter immediately reacts with resistance: “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” He cannot accept this vision of Jesus’ fate and struggles to imagine the Messiah suffering and dying.

Jesus responds firmly, saying, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me because you are focusing on human matters rather than divine ones.” Although Peter’s protest comes from a good place, it aligns with Satan—representing the forces that would distract Jesus from his true purpose. Peter is thinking in human terms, like power, victory, and triumph, instead of in divine terms, which include self-surrender, sacrifice, and redemption.

Then Jesus turns to all his disciples and explains what it means to follow him: “If anyone wants to be my follower, they must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me.”

This is not metaphorical. In the context of Roman occupation, taking up a cross means accepting the possibility of death. Denying yourself means refusing to center your life, desires, or agenda.

“For those who try to save their lives will end up losing them, but those who are willing to lose their lives for my sake will find true life.” This is the central paradox of the Gospel. The effort to preserve and protect yourself ultimately leads to the loss of what makes life meaningful. In contrast, those who surrender and give themselves entirely for Jesus’ sake will discover what true life really is.

“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world yet lose their own life? What can they give in exchange for their life? What value is there in acquiring everything in this world if it means sacrificing your soul, your true self, and your real life?”

Jesus promises, “For the Son of Man is coming with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for their deeds.” The end of the age is approaching, and justice will be served. Those who have endured loss for the sake of Christ will be vindicated.

“Truly, I tell you, there are some here who will not taste death before they witness the Son of Man coming into his kingdom.” Some of the disciples will experience the onset of what Jesus is referring to—the arrival of God’s kingdom—before they die.

The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost Wrap-Up

This Sunday, as we welcome new members into the Church through baptism, the readings highlight the significance and challenges of this sacred act. Jeremiah reminds us that being faithful to God does not ensure an easy life; rather, it assures us of God’s presence and strength during difficult times.

The psalmist emphasizes a life focused on faithfulness and integrity. Paul explicitly outlines what true love means: it includes blessing our enemies, feeding the hungry, and overcoming evil with good. Ultimately, Jesus clearly states that following Him requires us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and lose our lives to find them truly.

Today, those who are baptized embrace a significant calling. They align themselves with Jeremiah in his dedication to proclaiming God’s word, even in the face of adversity. They embody the psalmist’s commitment to integrity and love for God’s house. They adopt Paul’s vision of genuine love and the victory of good over evil. They respond to Jesus’ invitation to take up their cross and follow Him, trusting that by losing their lives for His sake, they will ultimately discover true life.

Baptismal waters invite us on a journey of transformation, guiding us through struggles toward redemption, triumph, and lasting joy.

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The Old Testament, New Testament, and Gospels readings are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Collect and Psalm are from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.