SATURDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD, 25 JULY , 2026

Selected Reflections for the Week

19TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR (A)

FIRST READING: 1 Kings 19:9a.11-13a

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Psalm 85:8ab and 9.10-11.12-13 (R. 7)

SECOND READING: Romans 9:1—5

GOSPEL: Matthew 14:22-33

OLUBUNMI AKINBODE SHAIRE

We are reminded of hope in the midst of lifeless situations. God promises not just restoration but renewal from within—placing His Spirit in us so we can truly live again.

It reminds us that no condition is too dead, no situation too lost. When God steps in, He brings life, purpose, and restoration. Our role is to trust Him, even when things feel buried or beyond repair.

I believe that God can revive every “dead” area of MY life—He is still in the business of restoration.🙏

EBONINE TOCHUKWU JOACHIM MCD

Faith expressed in calmness
In the 1st reading, we observed that God did not come to Elijah neither in the fire nor in the storm, but he came to him in the gentle wind.

So also, in the gospel, 1st, Jesus retreats in a quiet place to pray, also we see Jesus calming his apostles, 'do not fear'. And with his presence the disturbing oceanic wave became calm. Peter walked to Jesus on the sea, but immediately distractions came through the noise of the stormy ocean, he panicked and began to sink.

God is present and talks to us in our moments of quietude. He calls us to cultivate the habit of silence, calmness, quietude; there we shall encounter him, in that moment he speaks to us, in that moment we discover ourselves. A noisy person is always distracted and cannot feel God within him nor hear the voice of God speak to him and will not know the plans of God in his life.

Even in stormy times of our life, let's learn to be calm and seek God's will, then we will hear him bid us come to him, there we will feel his presence and discover his true plan even amidst challenges.

It's an exercise of faith- faith in calmness

Do not be afraid (Mtt. 14:27).
Be Still and know that I am the Lord (Psalm 46:10).

God bless us🙌

OKPALA UCHENNA MALACHY

In what way do you seek for God's intervention? Do you call on him when you are only in your most difficult moments or when you're pressured of life's struggles?

The gospel reading teaches me that, even when my faith fails, God never abandon me. He's always ever ready to extend his hands to pull me back.

So, whenever we are too overwhelmed with life's challenges, we shouldn't hesitate to call on the name of the Lord just as Peter..

Again, Peter cry "Love save me" is a reminder that, Prayer does not always have to be eloquent or lengthen. 

N:B: God always listen to honest prayer.

He doesn't wait for us to have a perfect, unshakable faith before He helps us; He reaches out precisely at the moment our human strength gives way.

May God continue to increase our faith in him and grant us Peace 🙏

May the Lord bless his words in our heart.. Amen

DORA FALEYE

My reflection from 1st reading and the gospel.

Hmm the storm of life!
This can be any terrifying experience one may face in life. Elijah encounter God in a gentle still voice when he was going through a rough experience while the Apostles of Christ were struggling with the storm and they encountered Jesus walking on the water.

Today we face a lot of terrifying experiences and we ask ourselves how do we find peace in this situation? Christ want us to have faith in him, he will give us part of him to make us carry on and be close to him. When we focus on Christ his words gives us joy and peace, we are able to overcome any challenges of life. But when we loses focus we face more difficulties and lost faith. Always remember to love your neighbor and wish them well according to the 2nd reading, this make us a fulfill person in Christ.

ANGELA IGBINAZAKA

The first reading revealed to me about the presence of God and where I can find him. Do I seek him in the noisy marketplace or buses or playgrounds? I have perceived today that in the little corner of my room that is quiet and clean God can be there. In the chapel where the tabernacle of the Lord is dwelling I can also find him there. And that also buttresses the message of the gospel when Peter seek to meet Jesus Christ upon the sea but as soon as he allowed fear to grip him he started sinking. Hence I too must keep my gaze on Jesus to avoid drowning in my daily challenges and life’s struggles believing that the Jesus who walked upon water by defying the law of nature will definitely take care of my life.

What is it that is drifting you away from focusing on Jesus who is the author and the finisher of your faith? Remain steadfast and persevere in trusting God because he is still in the business of settling our needs.

CHIKA NWAOZUZU

My Reflection:

Imagine the sense of great happiness the disciples must have felt seeing Jesus fed five thousand men excluding women and children with just five loaves of bread and two fish,i am sure they were on top of the world knowing and seeing their master perform such an unseen and unheard miracle before. Yet some few hours later,they found themselves terrified by the wind and waves of the sea. 

My brethren,it is 💯% possible for faith to fade away when the storms of today becomes louder than the miracles and testimonies of yesterdays. But in that very terrible moment in their dark hour, Jesus comes to them walking on the sea. They did not recognise him at first because of fear, instead,they thought he was a ghost. Jesus then spoke up "Take courage,it is I, do not be afraid". Here Jesus did not first calm the storm that confronted them, rather he calmed the storm of fear in their hearts before turning to the physical storm of the sea. 

When we are in the midst of our storms, Jesus always comes to calm our hearts with his words Take courage I am with you. Remembering the words of God in Is 43vs1-----; that he is with us in the storms of our lives.. All that is required of us is to know whom to call just as Peter recognised that, it's only Jesus that could save him and called him. The question here now is "Whom do we call in the midst of our storms of life?

Jesus or who?.

Let us remember that, each time we call on Jesus, the response from the responsorial psalms of today becomes our cup and portion. Not only will God show us his mercy, his salvation is also assured for us. May the name of our Lord and God be praised now and forever. Amen.