Upcoming Readings for June 11, 2023
Let us prepare our hearts and mind for worship with the readings for the Second Sunday after Pentecost:
First Reading: Hosea 5:15-6:6
Hosea warns the people that empty sacrifices without obedience are not what
God desires. Instead, the Lord expects us to respond to his abundant grace by being steadfast in our faith.
Psalm: Psalm 50:7-15
Echoing Exodus, God says, "The whole world is mine." How then can humans give God something that already belongs to God? God calls for "a sacrifice of thanksgiving," not animals.
Second Lesson: Romans 4:13-25
For Paul, the law was a system to keep him from repeating the same sins. Yet time and again, he still fell short. He knows we all face this challenge, and he reminds us not to lose heart because we have the righteousness of faith in Jesus to sustain us.
Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26
Matthew experiences the immediate power of Jesus’ call to become a disciple. Later Jesus answers his critics by emphasizing mercy over sacrifice.
|