Daily Readings - Sun Jun 18 2023

¹In the third month of the departure of Israel from the land of Egypt, in that day, they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai²Thus, setting out from Raphidim, and going directly to the desert of Sinai, they encamped in the same place, and there Israel pitched their tents away from the region of the mountain³Then Moses ascended to God. And the Lord called to him from the mountain, and he said: "This you shall say to the house of Jacob, and announce to the sons of Israel⁴‘You have seen what I have done to the Egyptians, in what way I carried you upon the wings of eagles and how I have taken you for myself⁵If, therefore, you will hear my voice, and you will keep my covenant, you will be to me a particular possession out of all people. For all the earth is mine⁶And you will be to me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you will speak to the sons of Israel.

Romans

Chapter 5

⁶Yet why did Christ, while we were still infirm, at the proper time, suffer death for the impious⁷Now someone might barely be willing to die for the sake of justice, for example, perhaps someone might dare to die for the sake of a good man⁸But God demonstrates his love for us in that, while we were yet sinners, at the proper time⁹Christ died for us. Therefore, having been justified now by his blood, all the more so shall we be saved from wrath through him¹⁰For if we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, while we were still enemies, all the more so, having been reconciled, shall we be saved by his life¹¹And not only that, but we also glory in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation

Matthew

Chapter 9

³⁶Then, seeing the multitudes, he had compassion on them, because they were distressed and were reclining, like sheep without a shepherd³⁷Then he said to his disciples: "The harvest indeed is great, but the laborers are few³⁸Therefore, petition the Lord of the harvest, so that he may sent out laborers to his harvest.

Chapter 10

¹And having called together his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out and to cure every sickness and every infirmity²Now the names of the twelve Apostles are these: the First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother³James of Zebedee, and John his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector, and James of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus⁴Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him⁵Jesus sent these twelve, instructing them, saying: "Do not travel by the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter into the city of the Samaritans⁶but instead go to the sheep who have fallen away from the house of Israel⁷And going forth, preach, saying: ‘For the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.⁸Cure the infirm, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You have received freely, so give freely

Sermon

In today's readings, we journey through three pivotal moments in the biblical narrative, each illuminating our role as disciples in God's plan. The first reading from Exodus recounts God's establishment of a covenant with Israel, designating them as a priestly kingdom and holy nation. This context, set in the wilderness of Sinai, underscores God's desire for a people set apart to serve Him. The second reading from Romans shifts our gaze to the ultimate expression of God's love—Christ's sacrifice for sinners, which reconciles us to God. This passage, part of Paul's epistle, emphasizes justification through faith and the transformative power of Christ's death and resurrection. In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus, moved by compassion for the scattered crowds, calls His twelve apostles, empowering them to continue His ministry of healing and proclamation. This mission is set amidst Jesus' active ministry, highlighting the urgency of reaching the lost. These readings weave together a narrative of vocation and mission. Exodus lays the foundation of a chosen people with a sacred purpose, while Romans expands this to include all humanity through Christ. Matthew then illustrates the practical enactment of this mission through the apostles, who are sent out to embody God's compassion. Together, they remind us that our identity as followers of Christ is rooted in a divine call to serve and share His love. In our daily lives, this means embracing our role as modern-day disciples. Like the apostles, we are called to step out in faith, trusting in God's grace to fulfill our mission. Whether in our communities, workplaces, or families, we are to be instruments of healing and hope. The moral lesson here is clear: our lives should reflect the compassion of Christ, and we should eagerly accept the challenge to spread His message. As we go forth, let us remember that we do not rely on our own strength but on the power of the Holy Spirit, guiding us to be a priestly kingdom and holy nation in a world in need.