NABRE

Romans 9

1I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie; my conscience joins with the holy Spirit in bearing me witness 2that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were accursed and separated from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kin according to the flesh. 4They are Israelites; theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; 5theirs the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Messiah. God who is over all be blessed forever. Amen.6But it is not that the word of God has failed. For not all who are of Israel are Israel, 7nor are they all children of Abraham because they are his descendants; but “It is through Isaac that descendants shall bear your name.” 8This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants. 9For this is the wording of the promise, “About this time I shall return and Sarah will have a son.” 10And not only that, but also when Rebecca had conceived children by one husband, our father Isaac—11before they had yet been born or had done anything, good or bad, in order that God’s elective plan might continue, 12not by works but by his call—she was told, “The older shall serve the younger.” 13As it is written:“I loved Jacobbut hated Esau.”

Matthew 14

13 When Jesus heard of it, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. 14When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick. 15When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16[Jesus] said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” 17But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.” 18Then he said, “Bring them here to me,” 19and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. 20They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over—twelve wicker baskets full. 21Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.