Faith Daily Lectio Monday, October 19, 2026 Gospel
Monday, October 19, 2026 · Monday in the week of the Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 24)
Gospel
Oratio (prayer)
Lord Jesus, You came to Your disciples across the wind and the waves. Send Your Holy Spirit as I read Matthew 14, that I may hear You say, It is I, and trust You when I begin to sink. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Meditatio (meditation)
Matthew 14:22-36
22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
23And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
24But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
32And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
33Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
34 And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.
35And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;
36And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.
Consider even rereading in another translation.
You could also consider listening to this chapter, narrated:
KJV (Max McLean) · ESV (Max McLean) · NIV (dramatized)
You might read the whole reading slowly, aloud, more than once.
Consider this verse, for example:
“But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” (Matthew 14:27)
What other lines speak to you?
After feeding the multitude, Jesus sends the disciples ahead by ship and goes up a mountain alone to pray. In the fourth watch of the night He comes to them walking on the sea. Peter steps out, begins to sink, and is caught. The chapter ends at Gennesaret, where the sick are made whole by touching the hem of His garment.
The Law When the disciples saw Jesus coming, they "cried out for fear" (v. 26). Peter walked toward Him, but "when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid" (v. 30). We know that pattern. We start out trusting, and then we look at the waves. Jesus names it honestly: "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" (v. 31)
The Gospel "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid" (v. 27). Jesus does not leave Peter in the water: "immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him" (v. 31). That same hand took hold of you in Baptism, and it holds you through every storm. Those in the ship confessed, "Of a truth thou art the Son of God" (v. 33). He is, and He is for you.
Prayer Lord Jesus, I confess that I take my eyes off You and fear the wind more than I trust Your word. Forgive me. Thank You for catching me with Your own hand and holding me fast in Your mercy. Keep me looking to You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Tentatio (trial)
Some nights the wind is contrary and help seems far off. The disciples rowed until the fourth watch, while Jesus prayed on the mountain, and then He came to them. Under trial it may help to pray Peter's short prayer, "Lord, save me" (v. 30), and to remember that Jesus has already answered it at the cross and the empty tomb.
Prayer Lord Jesus, when I am tossed with waves and beginning to sink, stretch forth Your hand and catch me. Speak Your word of good cheer to me, and bring me safely to the other side. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version.
My church home: Peace Lutheran Church, McMurray, PA. Looking for a church? See About Daily Lectio.
