Daily Readings - Mon Jul 01 2024
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
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful messages that challenge us to reflect on our faith and actions. The first reading from Amos confronts us with a stern warning from God to the people of Israel, who have turned away from justice and exploited the vulnerable. Amos highlights their injustices, such as selling the just for silver and ignoring the humble, and reminds them of God's past mercies and deliverance. Yet, despite these blessings, their actions have led to a warning of impending judgment, where their strength and might will fail them. This serves as a reminder that our faith must be accompanied by a commitment to justice and compassion for the marginalized.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to the personal cost of discipleship. Jesus, in his interaction with the scribe and the disciple, emphasizes the sacrifices required to follow him. The scribe's willingness to follow is met with a reality check about the hardships involved, while the disciple is asked to prioritize his faith over even the significant duty of burying his father. This teaches us that following Jesus requires us to re-evaluate our priorities and be willing to make sacrifices, trusting in God's providence over our own comforts.
Together, these readings remind us that faith is not merely a matter of belief but of action. We are called to live justly, standing up for the oppressed and using our resources responsibly. Additionally, we must be willing to make personal sacrifices, placing our relationship with God above worldly concerns. Let us examine our lives to ensure we are living out our faith with both compassion and commitment, trusting in God's guidance as we navigate the challenges of discipleship.