Daily Readings - Sun Jun 18 2023
Exodus
1In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.2For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.3And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;4Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.5Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:6And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Romans
6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Matthew
36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.37Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;38Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
1And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.2Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The 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 publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;4Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.5These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:6But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.7And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.8Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
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.