Daily Readings - Fri Jul 06 2018
Amos
4Hear this, you who crush the poor and who make those in need of land to do without5You say, "When will the first day of the month be over, so we can sell our wares, and the sabbath, so we can open the grain: in order that we may decrease the measure, and increase the price, and substitute deceitful scales6in order that we may possess the destitute with money, and the poor for a pair of shoes, and may sell even the refuse of the grain?9And it will be in that day, says the Lord God, that the sun will decline at midday, and I will cause the earth to become dark on the day of light10And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your hymns into lamentation. And I will put sackcloth over every one of your backs, and baldness on every head. And I will begin it like the mourning for an only-begotten son, and complete it like a bitter day11Behold, the days pass, says the Lord, and I will send a famine on the earth: not a famine of bread, nor of thirst for water, but for hearing the word of the Lord12And they will move even from sea to sea, and from the North all the way to the East. They will wander around seeking the word of the Lord, and they will not find it
Matthew
9And when Jesus passed on from there, he saw, sitting at the tax office, a man named Matthew. And he said to him, "Follow me." And rising up, he followed him10And it happened that, as he was sitting down to eat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners arrived, and they sat down to eat with Jesus and his disciples11And the Pharisees, seeing this, said to his disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?12But Jesus, hearing this, said: "It is not those who are healthy who are in need of a physician, but those who have maladies13So then, go out and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the just, but sinners.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages from the Prophet Amos and the Gospel of Matthew, both emphasizing God's deep concern for justice and mercy. Amos condemns the exploitation of the poor by the wealthy, who prioritize profit over righteousness, leading to a spiritual famine—a lack of hearing God's word. In contrast, Matthew's Gospel shows Jesus embracing sinners, calling Matthew, a tax collector, and dining with those marginalized, teaching that mercy is paramount over ritual sacrifice.
These readings are set against the backdrop of societal inequality and religious hypocrisy. Amos speaks during a prosperous yet unjust time in Israel, where the wealthy oppress the poor. Matthew's narrative challenges the Pharisees' strict legalism, highlighting Jesus' mission to the outcasts. Both texts underscore God's desire for justice and compassion over external piety.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to reflect on our treatment of others, especially the vulnerable. We must act justly, avoiding exploitation and greed, and instead show mercy and humility. Jesus' example teaches us to reach out to those on the margins, embracing them with love and compassion. The moral lesson is clear: true faith is demonstrated through our commitment to justice and mercy, living as humble and compassionate followers of Christ.