Daily Readings - Sun Jun 18 2023
Exodus
1On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.2They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain,3while Moses went up to God. The LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel:4You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.5Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;6and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel."
Romans
6For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.7For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--8but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.9Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.10For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.11More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Matthew
36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;38therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
1And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.2The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;4Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.5These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans,6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.7And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
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.