The Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A)

The tie in between today’s readings: Being special

Psalm 100: 1-5, Exodus 19:2-6, Romans 5:6-11, Matthew 9:36-10:8

In this life we are to love all men as ourselves. That being said, we have a deeper affection for certain people, family and friends for instance. Let’s face it. We care for our own over any stranger and it should be that way. Intimacy, by definition, needs to be selective, personal, and deep. Our heavenly Father is no exception. Out of all the people living in the world God chose an idol worshipper named Abram (Abraham) and made him special. The Lord marched him out or Ur of the Chaldees into the land of Canaan and promised it to him and his children, of which our seventy-five-year-old hero had none at the time. During his time there, God protected, prospered, and provided for him above all other men. By faith, Abraham became the friend of God and held the exclusive Covenant Promises that his seed would bless the whole world.

Fast forward five hundred plus years to our reading in Exodus 19:2-6. The children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob camp at the base of Mt. Sinai. A few short weeks ago, the God of their fathers, with plaques and power, liberated them from Egyptian slavery. Moses will be coming down from the mountain shortly. He will tell them that, if they are agreeable, the Lord will make them a kingdom of priests, a holy nation, and His personal possession out of all others in the world. They accepted God’s invitation…and became special.

By the time Jesus comes on the scene, in our reading today in Matthew 9:36-10:8, the relationship between Jehovah God and His chosen people has been rocky, at best. But family is family.  The whole of Matthew chapter nine gives us a picture of a very busy Jesus as He: healed a paralytic, called Matthew as a disciple, cleansed a hemorrhagic woman, raised a girl from the dead, gave sight to two blind men, exorcised a demon possessed man, and argued with the Pharisees about it. Here at verses 36 to 38 in today’s reading, Jesus and His disciples are still going through the towns proclaiming the gospel and healing the sick. He can’t stop. He feels compassion for them. They are like distressed and dispirited sheep. He is their shepherd, but it’s getting to be a bit too much.

“Guys,” He says, “There’s more need out here than we can handle. Pray to the Lord that He’ll send backup and, while you’re at it, get ready to become the answer to those prayers yourself.”

Mathew 10:1-8 gives us the role call of Jesus’ first expeditionary force into Judea. All of the disciples, including Judas Iscariot, are there matched up two by two and awaiting orders. Jesus gives them power to heal all sicknesses and cast out demons. The now have the street creds that they’ll need for their primary purpose: preaching the Kingdom of God to the lost sheep of the house of Israel…only. No Gentiles! No Samaritans! Despite His current hostilities with the religious leaders, blood comes first. Family is special; besides you have to start somewhere.

It’s not like Jesus never took on encounters with Samaritans and Gentiles, but this was the disciples’ basic training for the “Big Show” at Pentecost, where the mission field will become the whole world! Even here, as Apostles (especially Paul) they went out of their way to always go to the Jewish synagogues first, then everybody else, later. Their preaching, however, was always consistent, always the same. It was the gospel message that we find in our reading in Romans 5:6-11. It was the unifying message that all, both Jews and Gentiles, were sinners, God’s enemies, and helpless to avoid the wrath of the Almighty Judge, which they richly deserved. Despite this, the love of God stepped in. He sent His Son to die and rise from the dead. Through this and only this sacrifice of Christ can any receive reconciliation with the Father. Now, having been forgiven in Christ, their status changes from enemies to family. Jesus Christ, the promised seed of Abraham, has opened the way for the whole world to become the Lord’s adopted sons and daughters. In Him everyone is special.

Our reading in Psalm 100 give praise to our God for such a great salvation:

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

¹ Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
²     Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
³ Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his^[a];
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

So, if you have not yet, stop your futile feud with the Almighty. Leave your sin! Come to Him through the Lord Jesus Christ who died especially for you. Receive Him by faith. Know peace! Join the family of God…and be special.