Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 28, 2022

First Reading: Amos 3.1-8; 4.11-12

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

Chapter 4

¹¹I overturned you, just as God overturned Sodom and Gomorrah, and you became like an ember seized from the fire. And you did not return to me, says the Lord¹²Because of this, I will do these things to you, Israel. But after I have done these things to you, Israel, be prepared to meet your God

Psalm 5

Psalms

Chapter 5

¹Unto the end. For her who pursues the inheritance. A Psalm of David. O Lord, listen closely to my words. Understand my outcry²Attend to the voice of my prayer, my King and my God³For to you, I will pray. In the morning, Lord, you will hear my voice⁴In the morning, I will stand before you, and I will see. For you are not a God who wills iniquity⁵And the malicious will not dwell close to you, nor will the unjust endure before your eyes⁶You hate all who work iniquity. You will destroy all who speak a lie. The bloody and deceitful man, the Lord will abominate⁷But I am in the multitude of your mercy. I will enter your house. I will show adoration toward your holy temple, in your fear⁸Lord, lead me in your justice. Because of my enemies, direct my way in your sight⁹For there is no truth in their mouth: their heart is vain¹⁰Their throat is an open sepulcher. They have acted deceitfully with their tongues. Judge them, O God. Let them fall by their own intentions: according to the multitude of their impiety, expel them. For they have provoked you, O Lord¹¹But let all those who hope in you rejoice. They will exult in eternity, and you will dwell in them. And all those who love your name will glory in you¹²For you will bless the just. You have crowned us, O Lord, as if with a shield of your good will

Gospel: Matthew 8.23-27

Matthew

Chapter 8

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 encounter profound lessons about trust and faith in the face of turmoil. The first reading from Amos conveys God's judgment on Israel, using vivid imagery to emphasize that events do not occur without purpose. Amos highlights the role of prophets in revealing God's plan, urging Israel to repentance despite past punishments. In the Gospel, Matthew depicts Jesus calming a storm, showcasing His divine authority and the disciples' journey from fear to faith. Both readings are set against backdrops of societal and personal upheaval. Amos addressed a prosperous yet unjust Israel, calling for repentance. Matthew's narrative occurs early in Jesus's ministry, demonstrating His power and reinforcing the theme of trust. The common thread is the call to trust God, whether through prophetic warnings or divine intervention in nature. In our lives, we face our own "storms," where fear and doubt can overwhelm us. Like the disciples, we may question God's presence, but Jesus's rebuke reminds us to have faith. The lesson is clear: trust in God's plan, even when the path is unclear. Let us turn to Him in times of turmoil, seeking calm and guidance, and remember that true faith lies in trusting His providence.