Living Lectionary

“Illuminated Psalm”
Supplies needed: Bible; poster board or newsprint; marker; glue or paste; scissors; old magazines or calendars; individual photos of household members; encyclopedia or computer with internet access.

Look up the description of a shepherd (from an encyclopedia or via the internet). Here is a link to an ABS article on shepherds: www.americanbible.org/brcpages/
shepherds. Talk about the role of a shepherd. In what ways is God like a shepherd? Read together Psalm 100 and talk about what it means to be like sheep in God's pasture. Across the top of poster board or newsprint write “WE ARE GOD'S SHEEP” and write the words to Psalm 100 in the center. Cut out pictures of sheep or pastoral scenes and paste them in the surrounding margins to “illuminate” the psalm. Intersperse these pictures with photos of household members. Conclude by reading Psalm 100 again as a closing prayer and singing “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” or one of your favorite hymns.

PENTECOST: A TIME TO BE FILLED WITH GOD'S HOLY SPIRIT

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 6
June 15, 2008

Exodus 19:2-8a
Psalm 100
Romans 5:1-8
Matthew 9:35Ã�Â¢Ã¯Â¿Â½Ã¯Â¿Â½10:8 [9-23]

Who Will Gather in the Harvest?

Matthew’s Gospel contains five thematic groupings of Jesus’ teachings, so arranged by the Gospel’s author to call to mind the Pentateuch (the first five books in the Old Testament - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), also referred to as the Law of Moses (Torah). This week’s Gospel text comes from the second of these five groupings (the first being the Sermon on the Mount, chapters 5 - 7). This second grouping (chapter 10) contains instructions to Jesus’ disciples regarding how they are to go about spreading Jesus’ message.

The pericope begins with the concluding verses in chapter 9 that describe Jesus’ ministry of teaching and healing and how he is moved to compassion for the people because they “were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (verse 36, CEV). While the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is most often associated with the tenth chapter of John’s Gospel, it is here in Matthew’s Gospel that we see Jesus as shepherd expressing pity and concern for the people. On two other occasions in his Gospel account, Matthew invokes shepherding imagery for Jesus (2:6; 26:31).

Matthew’s aim is to show that Jesus is the promised Messiah, with his portrayal of Jesus as a deliverer or “new Moses” chosen by God to bring salvation and speak God’s word (Deuteronomy 18:15-19). Jesus’ words of compassion for the people resonate with those of Moses who asked God to appoint his successor to lead the people into the promised land of Canaan so that they would not be “like sheep wandering around without a shepherd” (Numbers 12:17, CEV).

Jesus exhibits a similar concern and thus commissions his followers for ministry (10:1-8). In response to the need for laborers to gather in the harvest (9:38), the disciples are empowered to “announce that the kingdom of heaven will soon be here,” to “heal the sick, raise the dead to life, heal people who have leprosy, and force out demons” (10:7, 8, CEV) - tasks that Jesus himself has been performing (see Matthew 8:1-4, 28-34; 9:18-26, 27-31, 35).

As twenty-first century followers of Jesus, we, too, are called as disciples and empowered by the Holy Spirit to extend God’s kingdom and carry out Jesus’ ministry wherever we are. The “Great Commission” (Matthew 28:19, 20) is as relevant for us today as it was two thousand years ago. The harvest is indeed plentiful, and laborers are needed. And yes, Jesus tells us, he sends us out like sheep among wolves (Matthew 10:16). Today, people are still as helpless and confused as they were in Jesus’ time, and in need of God’s saving love. Yet, we who belong to the Good Shepherd who died for us, “even though we were sinful” (Romans 5:8b), need to remember his compassion toward us and share God’s love with those who so desperately need it. Are you willing to accept the challenge to which Jesus is calling you?

This week’s Reflection was prepared by Barbara Bernstengel, who serves on the staff of the American Bible Society as Director of the Education Unit in the Nida Institute for Biblical Scholarship.

This week we remember to pray for the work carried out by the Bible Societies’ World and Regional Service Centers:

Africa Area - With thanks for God’s guidance and protection and for renewed interest in the Bible Society literacy projects, for Bible work among young people, children, people of various faiths, sports people, and for initiatives to combat corruption and violence, and with prayers for peace, for protection of the staff, and for efforts to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic from a biblical perspective;

Americas Area - With thanks to God for the two Bibles published in native languages and for the graduates of the indigenous translators’ program, and with prayers for the Publishing Unit, for the 50 translation projects underway, and for the youth Lectio Divina project with the Roman Catholic Church and the training of its leaders;

Asia-Pacific Area - With thanks to God for the privilege and opportunities to be of service and for the protection of staff, and with prayers for new opportunities to serve in innovative ways and for strong relationships between staff, Christian leaders, and Bible Societies;

Europe-Middle East Area - With thanks to God for the dedicated staff and Board members, and with prayers for their families, relationships, and health during a time of change and increased demands, and with prayers for the enabling of the Bible Societies to extend their work with their Roman Catholic constituencies when the Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church meet at an event to consider “The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church;”

World Service Centre - With thanks to God for the opportunity to serve colleagues in the Area Service Centers, and with prayers for continued effective stewardship of time and resources in the work of Communications, Fundraising, Translation, Program and Business Support, and with prayers for the granting of wisdom and strength to the Global Board and the General Secretary and Global Senior Management Team.