Ex 19:2-6a
Therefore, if you hearken to my voice and keep my covenant,
you shall be my special possession,
dearer to me than all other people,
though all the earth is mine.
You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.

Mt 9:36-10:8
Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus,
“Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.
Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons.
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

Princess for the Day
This past week I went to a conference in Orlando Florida. My friend and I came a little early so we could spend time at Epcot Center. I had always wanted to go to Epcot Center so I was wound for sound and very excited!

As we stood in line I noticed a beautiful little girl, maybe age four or five. She had on a lovely mint green long dress, with white gloves, and a tiara on her heard. It was obvious to me that she must be royalty. She was just across the line from me so I went over to her and knelt down so we could be eye to eye. I asked her, “How long have you been a princess?” She looked back at me and said, “Just today.”

She was very clear about how long her reign would last and perhaps her parents were to her as well. However, despite the shortness of her reign I have thought about her daily since I saw her last week. I thought about myself at her age and I could not imagine myself princess for a day, nor wearing the royal clothes in such a public place. She gave me a lot of food for thought throughout the conference I attended.

Yet the readings for Sunday June 15th talk to us very directly in the readings about being “special” if we live God’s covenant. Jesus invites us to tell all that the kingdom is at hand now and that we have everything we need to do extraordinary things for the people of God. What is that if not an invitation to live the lives of leaders or royalty in the here and now?

As I seek to accept this invitation I must answer these important questions: Who are those in my everyday life who are longing the experience the power of God’s loving presence and how am I as “God’s special one” called to extend it?

I don’t think it is about wearing my princess dress and tiara, nor about going out of my way to find people. I think it is waiting for me in the encounters that at the end of the day seem “normal.” However if I remember to bring into those taken for granted encounters with others the gentleness, the forgiveness and the love of a God who knows and sees all of our potentials, then that day will be royal and holy.