Daily Readings - Mon Jun 27 2022
Amos
6Thus says the Lord: For three wicked deeds of Israel, and for four, I will not convert him, in so far as he has sold the just for silver and the poor for shoes7They grind the heads of the poor into the dust of the earth, and they divert the way of the humble. And the son, as well as his father, have gone to the same girl, so that they outrage my holy name8And they have lain on garments taken in pledge next to every altar. And they drank the wine of the damned in the house of their God9Yet I exterminated the Amorites before their face, whose height was like the height of cedars, and whose strength was like the oak. And I crushed his fruit from above and his roots below10It is I who caused you to ascend from the land of Egypt, and I led you in the wilderness for forty years, so that you might possess the land of the Amorite13Behold, I will creak under you, just as a wagon creaks that is laden with hay14And flight will perish from the swift, and the strong will not maintain his strength, and the healthy will not save his life15And one holding the bow will not stand firm, and the swift of foot will not be saved, and the rider on the horse will not save his life16And the stout of heart among the strong will flee away naked in that day, says the Lord
Matthew
18Then Jesus, seeing the great crowds encircling him, gave orders to go across the sea19And one scribe, approaching, said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you will go.20And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have dens, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to rest his head.21Then another of his disciples said to him, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.22But Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and allow the dead to bury their dead.
Sermon
The readings today challenge us to reflect on our relationship with God and our commitment to living out His will in our lives. In the first reading from Amos, we hear the prophet’s stern warning to Israel for their injustices and neglect of the poor. Amos condemns the exploitation of the vulnerable and the corruption of those who have turned away from God’s ways. He reminds the people of the great favors God has shown them, such as their deliverance from Egypt, but also warns them of the consequences of their sins. The passage is a call to repentance, urging the people to turn back to God and live justly.
In the Gospel, Matthew presents us with two encounters with Jesus that highlight the cost of discipleship. The first is a scribe who expresses a willingness to follow Jesus anywhere, but Jesus responds by revealing the difficulties and uncertainties of His mission. The second is a disciple who asks to bury his father first, but Jesus insists that following Him must take precedence. These exchanges emphasize that following Christ is not about comfort or convenience but about radical commitment. Jesus is not looking for half-hearted followers but for those who are willing to prioritize His call above all else.
These readings remind us that our faith cannot be compartmentalized or reduced to mere convenience. Like the Israelites in Amos’ time, we are called to live with integrity and justice, especially toward the marginalized. Like the disciples in Matthew’s Gospel, we are called to embrace the challenges of following Christ without hesitation. In our daily lives, this means examining our priorities, letting go of attachments that distract us from God, and being willing to make sacrifices for the sake of the Kingdom. May we strive to live with the courage and commitment that faith demands, trusting that God will guide us through every trial and uncertainty.