Exodus 19: 2-6; Psalm 99(100): 2-3.5; Romans 5: 6-11; Matthew 9: 36 – 10: 8
After escaping from Egypt and journeying for three months through the desert, the Israelites arrive at Sinai where God offers the covenant. Israel is invited to be his people, given special protection. In return they are to be “a kingdom of priests, a holy nation”. The whole people are set apart to be intermediaries between God and the whole of mankind, taking knowledge of the one true God to all peoples.
The psalm sings joyfully of God while entering his temple: “he made us, we belong to him”.
Our readings from Paul’s letter to the Romans continue with this dense statement of the doctrine of atonement. God is not an offended deity to be appeased by his son’s sacrifice. “God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” God and Christ worked together to enable mankind to be “at one” with them. And now that we are reconciled “we will be saved by his life”, our new life in Christ, “the love of God poured into us through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
After more healings, Matthew’s gospel tells how Jesus went round “teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness”. For the enormous task of spreading the gospel, he appoints 12 Apostles and gives them their mission. Jesus’ ministry was almost entirely limited to Israel, and initially the Apostles are similarly restricted.
(Exodus 19: 2-6; Psalm 99(100): 2-3.5; Romans 5: 6-11; Matthew 9: 36 – 10: 8)
