Daily Readings - Fri Jul 01 2022
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
The readings today offer a powerful message about justice, compassion, and the call to follow God’s way. In the first reading from Amos, we hear a prophet denouncing those who exploit the poor and the vulnerable. Amos speaks of a society that has become so consumed by greed and injustice that it has forgotten the true meaning of living as God’s people. He warns of a time when there will be a famine—not of bread or water—but of hearing the word of the Lord. This is a stark reminder that turning away from God’s justice and mercy leads to spiritual emptiness.
In the Gospel, we see Jesus embodying the very mercy and justice that Amos calls for. Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him. Tax collectors were often seen as sinners and outcasts because of their collaboration with the Roman authorities and their reputation for dishonesty. Yet, Jesus does not shun Matthew; instead, he invites him to join him. When the Pharisees criticize Jesus for eating with sinners, Jesus responds by saying, “I have not come to call the just, but sinners.” This is a profound statement. It reminds us that none of us are without sin, and that God’s mercy is not reserved for the perfect but for those who recognize their need for it.
These readings challenge us to reflect on our own lives. Are we like the Pharisees, quick to judge others while ignoring our own shortcomings? Or are we like Matthew, willing to leave behind our old ways and follow Jesus? Amos and Jesus both call us to live with compassion and justice. We are reminded that true faith is not about outward appearances or rituals but about living in a way that reflects God’s love and mercy. Let us ask ourselves: Do we treat others with kindness and respect, especially those who may be marginalized or overlooked? Do we seek to grow in holiness by acknowledging our own sinfulness and turning to God? The readings today invite us to embrace a life of humility, mercy, and justice, just as Jesus did.