† Sunday, 15th June 2008
Cycle of Prayer: those who suffer persecution, oppression, denial of human rights
Keynote: Called to the Harvest
Book of Exodus 19:2–6
Formal written treaties between nations were uncommon in early times. Instead there was the covenant – an oral commitment or agreement before the tribe, maybe backed by oath – with the idea that God might strike the one who broke the agreement, or trespassed on another’s grazing land, water, or herds. This text records the covenant-making between God and his people. ‘Moses then went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain: “Say this to the House of Jacob… you have seen what I did with the Egyptians, how I carried you on eagle’s wings and brought you to myself. From this you know that now, if you obey my voice and hold fast to my covenant, you of all the nations shall be my very own… I will count you a kingdom of priest, a consecrated nation.”’ By keeping this covenant, the People of Israel will be consecrated, set aside for the service of the one true God. They will, in a special way, be holy, they will be God’s People.
Responsorial Psalm 99 [100] – A song of praise to God, creator and shepherd
Letter of Paul to the Romans 5:6–11
This extract from our semi-continuous reading from Paul’s letter talks about faith and justification. ‘We were still helpless when at the appointed moment Christ died for sinful men. It is not easy to die even for a good man… but what proves that God loves us is that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. Having died to make us righteous, is it likely that he should now fail to save us from God’s anger?’ In the moment of realisation of this free gift of God’s love, this knowledge of our freedom and reconciliation with God, ‘we are filled with joyful trust in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have already gained our reconciliation.’
Gospel according to Matthew 9:36– 10:8
‘When Jesus saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.’ Jesus tells his disciples, ‘”the harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.” He summoned his twelve disciples, and gave them authority…’
Even today the harvest is abundant, at times the church may seem downtrodden, but here in this gospel we see the optimism of faith transformed by the Lord into action. For Jesus names the Twelve apostles, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew… and the others, and he gives them their mission – a mission we share today: ‘Go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils… give without charge.’
© Peter J Harrison 2007