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Ordinary Time · Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year A

Romans 8:18-23

Future Glory

July 12, 2026

Saint Paul Writing His Epistles, Valentin de Boulogne
Saint Paul Writing His Epistles, Valentin de Boulogne, c. 1618–1620Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
A French follower of Caravaggio working in Rome. Paul is lit from one side at a table strewn with paper, caught mid-thought with the pen stopped.The creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God … the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now.Valentin de BoulogneA French painter in Rome and the most committed of Caravaggio's followers, who died at thirty-eight after a night out in the cold.Museum of Fine Arts, HoustonThe oldest art museum in Texas, grown very large on oil money, and free on Thursdays.Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Roman Lectionary
GospelMatt. 13:1-23Mt 13:1-23 orMatt. 13:1-9Mt 13:1-9
Second ReadingRom. 8:18-23Rom 8:18-23
First ReadingIsa. 55:10-11Is 55:10-11
Responsorial PsalmPs. 65:10, 11, 12-13, 14 (Luke 8:8)Ps 65:10, 11, 12-13, 14 (Lk 8:8)

Overview & Insights

“The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)

1. Suffering/glory (8:18) 2. Three groanings (8:19–27) a. Creation groans (hope for the revelation of the children of God) (8:19–22) b. Believers groan (firstfruits of the Spirit / by hope we were saved) (8:23–25) c. The Spirit groans (the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses) (8:26–27) 3. Suffering/glory (8:28–30)1 Each of these points—suffering/glory, the groaning of creation, the groaning of Christians, and the groaning of the Spirit—includes blessings of the age to come and the new covenant that have already dawned for Christians but are not yet complete.

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Take it further: Romans 8:18-23

Commentary

Working Preacher: Commentary on Romans 8:12-25Working Preacher: Commentary on Rom 8:12-25 Working Preacher

A preaching focused reading of creation's groaning that covers these verses.

Enduring Word: Romans 8Enduring Word: Rom 8 Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse by verse evangelical commentary on the whole chapter.

Bible Hub: Romans 8:18 CommentariesBible Hub: Rom 8:18 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic and modern commentaries on suffering and glory.

Barnes' Notes on Romans 8Barnes' Notes on Rom 8 StudyLight

A concise nineteenth century commentary on the chapter.

Brant Pitre on the 15th Sunday Readings (Year A) Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre

A Catholic reading of creation's longing alongside the day's Gospel.

Background & Word Study

Bible Hub Interlinear: Romans 8Bible Hub Interlinear: Rom 8 BibleHub

The Greek text with parsing and gloss for each word.

BibleProject: Overview of Romans 5-16BibleProject: Overview of Rom 5-16 BibleProject

An animated walk through the second half of the letter.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Romans 8Catena: Rom 8 Catena

Early church comment on suffering and glory gathered by verse.

Questions preachers ask

What is creation waiting for?

The whole creation groans in labor pains, and we with it, awaiting the redemption of our bodies; present suffering is nothing beside the glory soon to be revealed.

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