The 11th Sunday of Ordinary Time | Sunday 18 June 2023

Today is Sunday the 18th of June, beginning the 11th week of Ordinary time.

The monks of Pluscarden Abbey sing Domine praevenisti eum. ‘Lord, you advanced to meet him with rich blessings. You have placed a crown of precious stones on his head.’ As I listen, can I ponder for a moment the rich blessings the Lord bestows on me, how God, in fact, honours me… can I begin to realise how precious I am in God’s eyes?

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Today’s reading is from the Book of Exodus.


Exodus 19:2-6

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.”

Today’s reading presents us with a God who is determined to be in relationship with us: ‘I brought you to myself… you shall be my treasured possession… a holy nation’. God is making all the running in this relationship. How do these words or any other part of the reading make you feel?

God says ‘all the earth is mine’, yet sees one obscure corner of it as precious and unique, wanting it as a ‘priestly kingdom, a holy nation’. How do you think God sees you? Do you see yourself in the same way?


As we hear another reading of this text, notice what words strike you most. Can you let them sink deeper into your heart? How do you feel like responding?


The book of Exodus reflects on Israel’s sense of being chosen and called by God to live in a relationship of covenant and promise. What thoughts and feelings come to you as you listen to these words? Can you find words to respond to God in your heart?

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.