First Reading:  Exodus 19:2-6a

A Kingdom of Priests

What do we owe God?

How did God mold the people into a nation? By declaring a relationship between himself and Israel. Gathered into the desert at the foot of Mount Sinai, the people waited as Moses heard the word of God. [19:2]

The Lord spoke to the people through Moses with a history and a promise. "I freed and cared for you," God seemed to remind the people. "Now, if you keep my word and my covenant, you will be my people!" [19:4-6a]

Notice what kind of people God would form, a kingdom of priests and holy nation. While Israel had a priesthood, the people were privileged to have knowledge and worship of the true God. The people may have squandered that privilege from time to time, they still had God's promise of their relationship with him. It was a promise that would pass from generation to generation.

Both Christian and Jew share in that promise, for we both have a relationship with the same God. We have the right to worship him, and the responsibility to pass that promise onto the next generation.

How do you keep God's promise? How can you pass that promise on to others?