God in the Whisper, Not the Earthquake: Sunday Readings for August 9 – Deacon Randy Kiel – 08/06/2026

The readings for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time — Sunday, August 9, 2026 First Reading: 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14 Second Reading: Romans 9:1-5 Gospel: Matthew 14:22-33 Read along at the USCCB. Elijah at Horeb Deacon Randy sets the scene: Elijah is running for his life under a death sentence from Jezebel, carrying a message from God and sustained along the way — fed under the broom tree, given drink — before a forty-day journey brings him to Mount Horeb, also called Mount Sinai, arguably the most famous place on earth for God's physical presence. He shelters in a cave, possibly the same one tradition associates with Moses receiving the Ten Commandments. Told to go out and stand on the mountain because the Lord will pass by, Elijah watches a wind strong enough to crush rocks, then an earthquake, then a fire — and God is in none of them. Only in the tiny whispering sound does he recognize the Lord, hide his face in his cloak, and go stand at the entrance of the cave. Deacon Randy's takeaway: God was present the whole time, not confined to the manifestations of nature. Don't look too hard to see Him. Look lightly. He's here. He also traces the reading back to the old hymn "Rock of Ages." Paul's agony in Romans 9 Deacon Randy sits with the force of Paul's opening — speaking the truth in Christ, conscience joined with the Holy Spirit — and the astonishing thing Paul says next: that he would accept being cut off himself if it meant his brethren would come to believe. Israel had been given adoption, glory, the covenants, the law, worship, the promises, the patriarchs, and still many did not believe. It's an agony, Deacon Randy says, that Catholics know firsthand with their own loved ones. His invitation: pray for them, align our hearts with Paul's, and ask the Lord for the grace to sit in the presence of that still small voice that says I am with you. Deacon Randy Kiel joins The Catholic Morning Show each Thursday to prepare listeners for Sunday. Catch this and every segment at IowaCatholicRadio.com. #SundayReadings #DeaconRandyKiel #Elijah #MountHoreb #StillSmallVoice #Romans9 #CatholicMorningShow #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicPodcast #ScriptureStudy #LectioDivina #Catholic #OrdinaryTime Credits: Produced, Edited, and Mixed by Ayden Pugh, Alexia Baker, and Brady Grimm. ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Catholic Morning Show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode — and if this one was worth your time, please leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating. It takes ten seconds and it's the single best way to help more people find the show. 🎧 LISTEN LIVE Catch The Catholic Morning Show live, weekday mornings on Iowa Catholic Radio. Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKSYou can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website.If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio:Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & DevotionsThe Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.