June 18: Pentecost 3: Psalm 100

 The lessons for the Third Sunday after Pentecost are about obedience to sharing and living the Good News of God’s love. The Jewish Testament reading is from Exodus (19:2-8a). Through Moses, God tells the People of Israel, I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. The Epistle is from Romans 5:1-8. The author says, we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God…because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit…God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.

The Gospel from Matthew (9:35-10:8, (9-23)) shows Jesus in the middle of his ministry. We hear that when [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” In the very next sentence, Jesus sends out the disciples to cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.

God from the beginning has looked at humanity as treasured and loved; and as partners in the work of the healing of the wounds of the world. That can feel like a pretty heavy load. What can we, frail and fallible women and men possibly do to made a difference in all the wars and injustices and violence and hatred we see around us? By ourselves, we can’t do anything. However, as the Letter to the Romans reminds us, we aren’t alone. In fact, we are working in unity with God because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 100 is a song of praise to God. As the Psalm notes, [God] has made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture…the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his faithfulness endures from age to age.

We don’t need to doubt our abilities, because what we do is in union and obedience to God. The quote from Beth Moore is not an actual paraphrase or translation of Psalm 100. For me, it is a restating of the truths in the Psalm. I often need the reminder that “I am who God says I am. I can do all things through Christ.”

Do you need the reaffirmation of your worth in God’s eyes? Remember that you are treasured and beloved and filled with God’s Spirit in order to be God’s partner in the healing of the world!

Take time this week to write down at least three words that affirm that you “are who God says you are.”

Psalm 100 1 Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with a song. 2 Know this: The Lord himself is God; he himself has made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. 3 Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise; give thanks to him and call upon his Name. 4 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his faithfulness endures from age to age. (Book of Common Prayer)

“God is who He says He is.   God can do what He says He can do.    I am who God says I am. I can do all things through Christ. God’s Word is alive and active in me.” (Beth Moore, Believing God)