Daily Readings - Sun Jun 18 2023

¹In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt-on the very day-they came to the Desert of Sinai.²After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.³Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel:⁴'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.⁵Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine,⁶you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."

Romans

Chapter 5

⁶You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.⁷Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.⁸But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.⁹Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!¹⁰For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!¹¹Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Matthew

Chapter 9

³⁶When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.³⁷Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.³⁸Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Chapter 10

¹He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.²These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;³Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;⁴Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.⁵These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.⁶Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.⁷As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.'⁸Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you 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.