Fifth Sunday after Pentecost • Year A

Historical Collect

Lord of all power and might, you are the author and giver of all good things. Graft into our hearts a love of your name. Increase in us true faith, nourish us with what is good, and watch over all who are in your care. Grant this, we pray, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Gelasian Sacramentary, 7th Century)

Thematic Collect

Merciful Father, for Jesus’ sake you have welcomed us into your kingdom and given us abundant and eternal life. Set us free from the power of sin and death, and send us forth to serve and welcome others, seeing in them the very presence of your Son; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Common Thread

We are not divorced from keeping the law. Every one of God’s righteous rules endures forever. The Ten Commandments remain in both Scripture and the Catechism. They are there for our good and our guidance. The law, however, cannot condemn those who have faith in the Son of Man who fulfilled the law for us. Nevertheless, we are called to live in the Spirit at a higher level, bearing fruit for God. This commitment to Christ takes us to our own crosses where we must be willing to die for him. The one who dos not take up that cross, who loves this life more than the Lord, is unworthy of him. 

First Reading • Jeremiah 28:5-9

Oh! if only the peace prophets were right. Jeremiah responds to Hananiah’s prophecy with an enthusiastic “Amen!” May it be as you say, Hananiah; but it will not be as you say. We are right to hope for peace; we are wrong to lead people astray by saying there is “peace when there is no peace” (Ezek 13:10). 

Psalm • Psalm 119:153-160

When we have tried our best to live the way God demands, the best we can do is appeal to God’s great mercy (Psa 119:156). Though we have tried to be faithful, failing along the way, and going astray (Psa 119:176), the burden of ultimate faithfulness is upon God. 

Second Reading • Romans 7:1-13

The law is good and useful, so long as one is alive. When a man breaks the law by speeding in his car, then crashes into a tree and dies, the officer upon arriving, would never give the dead man a speeding ticket. As soon as one is dead, the law has no use him anymore. We have been crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20), so the law man cannot give us a ticket any longer. The law has no use for us anymore, since we have died in the flesh, but have been made alive in the Spirit (1 Pet 3:18). The law, now that we are alive to Christ (Rom 6:11), is still profitable for teaching us what is wrong, and how to live rightly. Yet, we are now released from the written law code so that we may live in the new way — the way of the Spirit (Rom 7:6). 

Gospel • Matthew 10:34-42

We seek the peace of Christ, so it is more than a little surprising to hear Jesus say he did not come to earth to bring peace. After all, was he not heralded as the way of peace to whom cousin John would point (Luke 1:79)? The angels declared to the shepherds, “on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Yet here, Jesus says he did not come to bring peace. Worse, he says that he came to bring a sword, yet he told Peter, after the latter cut off Malchus’ ear, to put his sword away (John 18:11).

Jesus must be speaking metaphorically, for he has brought us peace, though certainly not with the absence of all troubles. Along this line, taking up one’s cross must mean violence. When Jesus took up the cross on the way to Calvary, great violence was at the end of that journey. Even so, when we take up our crosses, though the peace of Christ might yet reign in our hearts, we will know much strife. This is the way of true life and great reward.