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First Reading - Exodus 19:2-8a

Psalm - Psalm 100:1-5

Second Reading - Romans 5:6-15

Gospel - Matthew 9:35–10:8, 9-20

Because Jesus, the Good Shepherd, cares for his sheep, even those sheep who are lost, he provides shepherds for them. These shepherds are sent far and wide throughout the world, to find his sheep and provide for them. These shepherds need not be concerned what to say to the lost sheep, for the Spirit will fill them and give them his words, so that the Father speaks through them on his behalf. 

First Reading - Jeremiah 20:7-13

Psalm - Psalm 91:1-10, 11-16

Second Reading - Romans 6:12-23

Gospel - Matthew 10:5a, 21-33

Obedience is difficult. If we think obedience in the area of personal righteousness is tough, the Gospel Reading hands us another challenging area of obedience. Everyone wants to be loved and admired—even Jeremiah desired as much—but the gospel’s call to obedience is the invitation to rejection and worse. The Reading bids us think of our own Lord’s hatred and suffering. Then it warns us that we will also be persecuted and hated for his Name. The only reward that we are promised for our obedience is that, if we do not deny him in this life, he will acknowledge us to his Father in the life to come. There could not be a sweeter promise.

First Reading - Jeremiah 28:5-9

Psalm - Psalm 119:153-160

Second Reading - Romans 7:1-13

Gospel - Matthew 10:34-42

We seek the peace of Christ, so it is more than a little surprising to hear Jesus say he did not come to earth to bring peace. After all, was he not heralded as the way of peace to whom cousin John would point (Luke 1:79)? The angels declared to the shepherds, “on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Yet here, Jesus says he did not come to bring peace. Worse, he says that he came to bring a sword, yet he told Peter, after the latter cut off Malchus’ ear, to put his sword away (John 18:11).

Jesus must be speaking metaphorically, for he has brought us peace, though certainly not with the absence of all troubles. Along this line, taking up one’s cross must mean violence. When Jesus took up the cross on the way to Calvary, great violence was at the end of that journey. Even so, when we take up our crosses, though the peace of Christ might yet reign in our hearts, we will know much strife. This is the way of true life and great reward.