Lectionary - Readings August 2026

WEEK 8: 26th July -1st August

Romans 8:26-end (Trinity 8)

This week's passage forms the climax of the chapter; indeed, in many ways it is the climax of the whole Epistle. God's promise is nothing less than this - for us to be shaped, despite all our failings, into the likeness of Jesus himself!

This being so, no wonder that we have reason to celebrate. Bad as we are, God's verdict on us is one of 'not guilty'! God is on our side, and through the death and resurrection of Jesus the victory is ours.

WEEK 9: 2nd - 8th August

Romans 9:1-5 (Trinity 9)

We now move on to a new section in Romans (chapters 9-11), in which Paul focuses his attention on God's plan for his chosen people, the Jews.

To some extent this may seem paradoxical, for Paul is renowned above all as the apostle to the Gentiles. However, he had a passionate attachment to his roots (see especially verse 3) and never lost sight of the traditions in which he had been nurtured; in the words of the prophet Isaiah, he looked to the rock from which he had been cut and the quarry from which he had been hewn (Isaiah 5:1).

WEEK 10: 9th - 15th August

Romans 10:5-15 (Trinity 10)

In these verses Paul suggests that the Jews have missed the point. Here no doubt he was thinking of his own past, and of the way in which he had tried to earn the favour of God by his own efforts. No, says Paul; it does not work like that!

His comments are not just for the Jews but for all of us. The idea of earning 'brownie points' by our own merits is one which many generations of Christians have found it hard to let go of. Yet let go of it we must, if we are fully to experience the joy of God's free grace as revealed in Jesus. 

WEEK 11: 16th - 22nd August

Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 (Trinity 11)

In this part of his letter Paul explores a number of approaches to the vexed problem of the relationship between Christianity and Judaism.
However, as a careful reading of these chapters will reveal, none of these have really provided a satisfactory answer.

All one can do at the end of the day, says Paul, is to leave the issue to the grace of God, whose purpose is to show mercy not just to some, but to all. No wonder that he concludes the chapter, and this section of the letter, with a fervent outburst of praise to God (see verses 33-36).

WEEK 12: 23rd - 29th August

Acts 5:12-16 (St Bartholomew)

This week we take a break from Romans in order to mark our patronal festival. Strictly speaking, St Bartholomew's Day is celebrated on 24th August, but it makes sense for us to observe it on the nearest Sunday.

Setting an appropriate reading for the day is no easy matter. The Bible tells us little or nothing about St Bartholomew, though there are many traditions relating to his life and work and to his supposed martyrdom. However, this week's reading from Acts will do as well as anything, as it tells of the miracles and wonders being performed in Jerusalem by the apostles as a body. St Bartholomew may not have been an 'all-star' performer like Peter or Paul, but the Church also needs its team players, who may not attract attention to themselves but get on with the work.

WEEK 13: 30th August - 5th September 

Romans 12:9-end (Trinity 13)

After all of the excitement that has gone before, the last five chapters of Romans may come as something of an anticlimax. Now we are brought back down to earth with a bump, as Paul challenges us to come to terms with the boring old nitty gritty of daily Christian living.

However, this is no accident. It is one thing to contemplate the great truths of our faith, but applying them in the context of our daily lives is another matter altogether. This week's reading, with its echoes of the Sermon on the Mount, reminds us that in the end God has given us Jesus, in the words of the old collect, not only as a 'sacrifice for sin', but also as an 'example of godly life', and that we are called not only to 'give thanks for that his inestimable benefit', but also to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life'. May that be our aim as we all get back to normal after the summer holidays!