A Missionary Spirit

Preparing for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost: One Day before Sunday (Year A)

Scripture (semicontinuous)

Psalter: Psalm 133

Old Testament: Genesis 42:1-28

Gospel: Matthew 14:34-36

Scripture (complementary)

Psalter: Psalm 67

Old Testament: Isaiah 56:1-5

Gospel: Matthew 14:34-36

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Prayer

As you heard the prayer of Isaac and Rebekah, O God, and guided them in the way of your love, so listen now to those who call upon you. Move us to praise your gracious will, for in Christ Jesus you have saved us from the deeds of death and opened for us the hidden ways of your love. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Revised Common Lectionary)

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Reflection

May God be gracious to us and bless us

    and make his face to shine upon us, Selah

that your way may be known upon earth,

    your saving power among all nations.

Let the peoples praise you, O God;

    let all the peoples praise you.

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,

    for you judge the peoples with equity

    and guide the nations upon earth. Selah

Let the peoples praise you, O God;

    let all the peoples praise you.

The earth has yielded its increase;

    God, our God, has blessed us.

May God continue to bless us;

    let all the ends of the earth revere him (Psalm 67).

There is a missionary spirit in Psalm 67 after the Psalmist implores God’s graciousness upon the people of Israel. There is an expression of hope that the nations of the world will be glad and sing for joy because God will judge the people with equity, that is fairness with righteousness. This is not a negative understanding of judgment as the nation’s getting what they deserve, but rather the idea that God is going to make things right with the nations and that God will guide the nations on the earth.

It is possible that this song was written at the time of the harvest and that the Psalmist hopes that the bountiful harvest of the nations would bring Israel’s neighbors to trust in the God of Israel

Israel’s God is not a tribal deity concerned only with God’s people. There is recognition of a universal law, a way that will benefit all nations if they will simply trust.

While, Israel did not always express this universal ideal it is there. Tennyson says it well when he says “there is one God, one law, one element and one far off divine event to which the whole creation moves.”

God is not the God of a select nation alone, but the God of all people

PRAYER: Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer).

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