Daily Readings - Tue Jun 30 2020
Amos
1Listen to the word which the Lord has spoken about you, sons of Israel, concerning the whole family that I led out of the land of Egypt, saying2I have known only you in such a way, out of all the families of the earth. For this reason, I will visit upon you all your iniquities3Will two walk together, unless they have agreed to do so4Will a lion roar in the forest, unless he has prey? Will the lion’s young cry out from his den, unless he has taken something5Will a bird fall into a snare on the ground, if there is no bird-catcher? Will a snare be taken away from the ground, before it has caught something6Will the trumpet sound in a city, and the people not become frightened? Will there be disaster in a city, which the Lord has not done7For the Lord God does not fulfill his word, unless he has revealed his secret to his servants the prophets8The lion will roar, who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken, who will not prophesy
Matthew
23And climbing into a boat, his disciples followed him24And behold, a great tempest occurred in the sea, so much so that the boat was covered with waves; yet truly, he was sleeping25And his disciples drew near to him, and they awakened him, saying: "Lord, save us, we are perishing.26And Jesus said to them, "Why are you afraid, O little in faith?" Then rising up, he commanded the winds, and the sea. And a great tranquility occurred27Moreover, the men wondered, saying: "What kind of man is this? For even the winds and the sea obey him.
Sermon
In today's readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of trust and faith in God's providence. The first reading from the Prophet Amos reminds us that God's relationship with His people is deeply personal and intimate. Amos speaks of God's knowledge of Israel and His desire to lead them out of sin and into a life of fidelity. The prophet uses vivid imagery—lions roaring, birds falling into snares—to emphasize that nothing happens without God's knowledge or purpose. This passage serves as a call to repentance, urging Israel to return to the Lord after experiencing His just judgment. Amos makes it clear that God reveals His plans through His prophets, and we are called to listen and respond.
The Gospel from Matthew presents a complementary message of trust in God's power and care. Jesus, asleep in the boat during a violent storm, is awakened by His terrified disciples. With a word, He calms the winds and the waves, demonstrating His divine authority over creation. The disciples' fear gives way to awe as they ask, "What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?" This episode is not just a display of power but a lesson in faith. Jesus' question to His disciples—"Why are you afraid, O little faith?"—challenges us to examine our own trust in God when we face the storms of life.
Both readings invite us to deepen our relationship with God and to trust in His providence. Amos calls us to listen to God's voice and to repent, while Matthew encourages us to have faith in God's power and care, even in the midst of turmoil. In our daily lives, we can apply these lessons by remaining attentive to God's presence, seeking His will, and trusting that He is always with us, even when the waters seem rough. Let us strive to live with the confidence that comes from knowing God's love and care, and may we, like the disciples, come to know more deeply the kind of God we follow.