Week 2 – Thursday 17 March

“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.”

Reading

Exodus 19.1-8

The Israelites Reach Mount Sinai

At the third new moon after the Israelites had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day, they came into the wilderness of Sinai. They had journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain. Then Moses went up to God; the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, ‘Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the Israelites: You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how 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. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.’

So Moses came, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. The people all answered as one: ‘Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do.’ Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.

Reflection

Out of Egypt, Israel is given a new identity, and with it, a vocation. They are the people of God, a ‘treasured possession’, their vocation, to embody God’s way of life as a ‘priestly kingdom’ and ‘a holy nation’. Kings used to be the ultimate arbiters of justice. But Israel is given no king. God is king, and the people, ‘a priestly kingdom’. It is everyone’s calling to uphold justice. Life cannot be fair, just or abundant unless a community as a whole seeks to live justly. Justice is not an individualistic enterprise, it is a communal vocation.

This is where things get difficult: in any community, different ideas of justice compete and individuals clash over rights and their version of the common good. Quickly, everyone pulls their own way, and common vocation falters. This is why Israel is called to be ‘holy’: to locate their unity not in consensus, but in imitation of God.

Prayer

Lord God, help us to seek justice together with all others in our communities – not just those we agree with, but seek the kind of justice that enables the flourishing of all. Amen.

Today’s family challenge

Try to say hi to all the members of your class

We don’t get on with everyone all the time. But everyone – friend or not – matters to God and is a part of our community.