The Miracle of the Loaves, Lambert Lombard, Oil on Panel at Rockox House, Antwerp

Prime Timers

The Prime Timers were a Bible study group at St. Martin's for eight years. One of the goals of our founder Jackie Rose was to have a weekly web page for the group and all the pages are still online here. The group disbanded but the readings below are being kept up to date.

Lectionary readings

The Readings for Sunday, August 2 are from the Lectionary Year A Proper 13: Track 1: Genesis 32:22-31; Psalm 17:1-7,16 or Track 2: Isaiah 55:1-5; Psalm 145: 8-9, 15-22 and for both: Romans 9:1-5 and Matthew 14:13-21. The text is from the Bible Study Tools - New International Version.

Track 1:

Genesis 32:22-31

²² That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. ²³ After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. ²⁴ So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. ²⁵ When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. ²⁶ Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” ²⁷ The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. ²⁸ Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” ²⁹ Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. ³⁰ So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” ³¹ The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.

Psalm 17:1-7,16

¹ Hear me, LORD, my plea is just;
     listen to my cry.
     Hear my prayer— it does not rise from deceitful lips.

² Let my vindication come from you;
     may your eyes see what is right.

³ Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me,
     you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed.

⁴ Though people tried to bribe me,
     I have kept myself from the ways of the violent
     through what your lips have commanded.

⁵ My steps have held to your paths;
     my feet have not stumbled.

⁶ I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;
     turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.

⁷ Show me the wonders of your great love,
     you who save by your right hand
     those who take refuge in you from their foes.

¹⁵ As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;
     when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

or Track 2:

Isaiah 55:1-5

Thus says the Lord:

¹ “Come, all you who are thirsty,
     come to the waters;

and you who have no money,
     come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk
     without money and without cost.

² Why spend money on what is not bread,
     and your labor on what does not satisfy?

Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
     and you will delight in the richest of fare.

³ Give ear and come to me;
     listen, that you may live.

I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
     my faithful love promised to David.

⁴ See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
     a ruler and commander of the peoples.

⁵ Surely you will summon nations you know not,
     and nations you do not know will come running to you,

because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel,
     for he has endowed you with splendor.”

Psalm 145: 8-9, 15-22

⁸ The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
     slow to anger and rich in love.

⁹ The LORD is good to all;
     he has compassion on all he has made.

¹⁴ The LORD upholds all who fall
     and lifts up all who are bowed down.

¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you,
     and you give them their food at the proper time.

¹⁶ You open your hand
     and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

¹⁷ The LORD is righteous in all his ways
     and faithful in all he does.

¹⁸ The LORD is near to all who call on him,
     to all who call on him in truth.

¹⁹ He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
     he hears their cry and saves them.

²⁰ The LORD watches over all who love him,
     but all the wicked he will destroy.

²¹ My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
     Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.

and for both:

Romans 9:1-5

¹ I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— ² I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. ³ For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, ⁴ the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. ⁵ Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.

Matthew 14:13-21

¹³ When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. ¹⁴ When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. ¹⁵ As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” ¹⁶ Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” ¹⁷ “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. ¹⁸ “Bring them here to me,” he said. ¹⁹ And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. ²⁰ They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. ²¹ The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Thanks to Bible Study Tools for today's text.