Lectionary for June 7th, 2026

Written in

Our lectionary readings for the Second Sunday After Pentecost follow. For a link to read them all online, go here.

  • Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26
  • Hosea 5:15-6:6
  • Psalm 50:7-15
  • Romans 4:13-25
  1. Jesus is very busy in these passages from Matthew. He calls Matthew, telling him, like us, to “Follow me.” He attends a gathering of sinners and other tax collectors at Matthew’s house. When criticized for this, Jesus says those who are well do not need a doctor, that he came to call not the righteous but sinners. To me this means that if we cannot see that we are sick and sinful, he cannot save us. We cannot receive his help if we don’t think we need it! He is then asked by a father to come and heal a daughter who has died. Along the way he heals a woman with hemorrhages, who with faith touched the fringe of his robe.
  2. In Hosea, the Lord punishes Israel and Judah for their idolatries. He will remain distant until they confess their sin and seek his face. He doesn’t just want sacrifices, but continuous relationship and knowledge: “Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord.”
  3. In the psalm, the Lord tells us, he is our God and we are his people. He doesn’t need all of the continuous animal sacrifices being made to him. He isn’t hungry for them. He doesn’t need us to feed him. Instead, he wants us to offer true sacrifice, a sacrifice of thanksgiving to him, and to honor our vows and promises to him. 
  4. Paul tells us in Romans that we have new relationship with God through our belief in him who raised Jesus from the dead for us. It is not by observing the law or moral codes, but simply having faith. Like our spiritual father, Abraham, we are judged “righteous” – on the right side of God – through faith in him, “who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification” (verses 24-25). It is his free gift to us!

In all of these readings, we are called to believe, to have faith, and to follow Jesus, just as Abraham believed and followed God. Abraham didn’t know exactly where he was going or what he would do when he was told by God to go to Canaan, but he believed and was faithful. The same for us. We follow Jesus and wrestle with decision-making, with the help, inspiration and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.