Sunday 14th June 2026

ORDINARY 11A

14th June 2026

A short act of worship and daily devotions

Opening prayers

As sure as the sun rises,

So sure can I be of your love for me,

Of your grace, going before me.

Come into this space, this day, I pray, O God,

That I might know your presence and sense your hand at work in my life.

May I become aware of your Spirit, I pray, O God.

And may I be still.

[Hold a moment of quiet, perhaps noticing your breathing and stilling your mind for as long as you dare. When you are ready, return to the words here].

As sure as the sun rises,

So sure can I be that I am loved, accepted and held by you, O God.

Amen.

You may now wish to say the Lord’s Prayer in a version or translation with which you are familiar.

Reading: Matthew 9:35-10:8 – Click for reading

Responding to the reading

What use is our compassion, if it doesn’t move us to action?

Perhaps that is the question today’s Gospel reading begins to explore. Jesus looks out at the crowds and sees something deeper than noise, need, or inconvenience. He sees people who are “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

And Matthew tells us that Jesus has compassion for them. Compassion is not pity from a distance, nor is it a vague feeling of sadness. In the Gospels, compassion is something Jesus feels deeply in his body. It moves him and it changes what he does next.

And what does Jesus do? He turns to his disciples and says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few.” Then he sends them out. This is important. Jesus doesn’t simply ask the disciples to admire his compassion. He invites them to share in it.

Discipleship is not only about learning from Jesus. It is about being sent by Jesus, responding to the Christ’s compassion for the world around us, and acting as his hands and feet in seeking to heal the wounds, stand in solidarity with the oppressed, respond to the needs of our communities and our world.

In Matthew 10, Jesus names the twelve disciples and gives them authority to heal, restore, cleanse, and proclaim the good news that the kingdom of heaven has come near. They are ordinary people: fishermen, a tax collector, people with mixed motives and unfinished faith. Yet Jesus trusts them with his work, which should both encourage and challenge us.

We do not need to be perfect before we are useful to God. We do not need to have all the answers before we can offer compassion. But we do need to be willing: to notice pain, to respond with love, and to allow our faith to become practical.

The mission Jesus gives is not about domination or religious superiority. It is about healing, liberation, restoration, the harmony inherent in the Biblical concept of ‘shalom’. The kingdom comes near when people are made whole, when burdens are lifted, when those who feel abandoned discover they are seen and loved.

And Jesus says, “You received without payment; give without payment.” Grace is not a possession to guard. It is a gift to share.

Today, you might like to reflect on one or more of these questions:

• Who around you seems harassed, helpless, overlooked, or weary?

• Where might compassion be asking you not just to feel, but to act?

• What gifts have you freely received that you are now being called to freely give?

  
  

Two thousand years after the gospel stories, the world is still full of people longing for healing, dignity, and hope. And Christ still sends ordinary disciples into ordinary places to embody extraordinary grace.

May you see with the compassion of Christ, go with the courage of Christ, and give freely from the grace you have received.

Hymn / Song 156 STF – From the breaking of the dawn – YouTube

Blessing

God of justice,

God of wisdom,

God of light, Inspire, carry and lift me through this week ahead, I pray.

Let me follow in your way, O God, that I might catch the opportunities to join in with your invitation,

This day and always,

Amen. ____________________________________________________________________

Prayers and Prayer Pointers For This Week

Monday 15th June

• ‘Behold, I am making all things new, says the Lord.’

• God of the morning, help me to begin again.

• Where last week was difficult, give me fresh hope. Where I made mistakes, help me receive grace. Where I can do good, give me courage. Amen.

Tuesday 16th June

• Today, pray for those working in healthcare and social care.

• Give thanks for their skill, patience, compassion, and endurance.

• You might like to pray especially for those who feel tired or under pressure.

Wednesday 17th June

• Look for one opportunity today to offer encouragement.

• A kind word, a note, a smile, or a small act of appreciation may be exactly what someone needs.

• God of kindness, make me generous with encouragement. Amen.

Thursday 18th June

• Holy Spirit, guide my words today.

• Help me to speak truthfully, listen carefully, and respond gently.

• May my conversations bring peace, not harm. Amen.

Friday 19th June

• Today, pray for refugees, asylum seekers, and all who have been forced to leave home.

• Pray for safety, dignity, welcome, and justice.

• God who travelled as a child in danger, be close to all who seek refuge. Amen.

Saturday 20th June

• Spend a few minutes in quiet gratitude.

• Name five things, however small, for which you are thankful today.

• God of abundance, teach me to notice your gifts. Amen.