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Third Sunday after Pentecost • Year A
June 14, 2026 • Proper 6
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Historical Collect
O Lord, our God, arrange the course of this world that peace may come and your tranquil Church rejoice through greater service. Grant this, we pray, through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. He lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Leonine Sacramentary, 6th Century)
Thematic Collect
Beckoning God, in the sacrament of baptism you have drawn us to yourself, anointed us as your own, calling us to be your pilgrim people. As Jesus sent the disciples, so may your Spirit send us to share the extravagant blessings of your grace; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
The Common Thread
Following on the heels of the Gospel lesson for Trinity Sunday where Jesus sent the disciples into the world to baptize and teach, we see in today’s readings that all of God’s people are sent into the world as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation of proclaimers. We are to make a joyful noise to and for the Lord. This reconciled priesthood of believers is being sent out as harvesters, but they should be aware that the world is a dangerous field where people will resist the gospel and its heralds. When they do, we need not worry about what we should say because the Spirit will provide the words. As Jesus said in the Gospel reading for Trinity Sunday, “Behold, I am with you always.”
First Reading • Exodus 19:2-8a
The Lord said that those who obey his voice and keep his covenant will be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. This is conditional. In 1 Peter 2, those who are saved or who have “tasted that the Lord is good,” are made into a holy priesthood who offer sacrifices to God on the basis of Jesus Christ. Christ is the condition for God’s mercy and the resultant bestowal of holiness.
Psalm • Psalm 100:1-5
God takes care of us as a shepherd cares for every need of his sheep. He does not do this for a little while, then forget about us. His love is constant and he is faithful from one generation to the next. This is not conditional, for God is good to us because of his goodness, not ours.
Second Reading • Romans 5:6-15
Again, we see the unconditional love of God. While we were sinners, Christ died for us. He did not provide a way of salvation once we were good enough or worthy. Indeed, because we would never be anything but sinners, he became our justification and the way of salvation. The only condition is his love. In other words, the grace of God is a free gift provided us for Christ’s sake, not our merits.
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.
Resources
Links to Worship Resources for this Service
