Daily Readings - Thu Jul 04 2024
Amos
10And Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying: "Amos has rebelled against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to withstand all his sermons11For Amos says this: ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will be taken captive out of their own land.’ 12And Amaziah said to Amos, "You, seer, go out and flee into the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there13And in Bethel, do not prophesy any longer, because it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is the house of the kingdom.14And Amos responded, and he said to Amasias, "I am not a prophet, and I am not the son of a prophet, but I am a herdsman plucking from wild fig trees15And the Lord took me, when I was following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ 16And now, hear the word of the Lord: You say, "You will not prophesy about Israel, and you will not rain your words upon the house of the idol.17Because of that, the Lord says this: "Your wife will fornicate in the city, and your sons and your daughters will fall by the sword, and your soil will be measured with a string. And you will die on polluted land, and Israel will be taken into captivity out of their land.
Matthew
1And climbing into a boat, he crossed the sea, and he arrived at his own city2And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, "Be strengthened in faith, son; your sins are forgiven you.3And behold, some of the scribes said within themselves, "He is blaspheming.4And when Jesus had perceived their thoughts, he said: "Why do you think such evil in your hearts5Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk?6But, so that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins," he then said to the paralytic, "Rise up, take up your bed, and go into your house.7And he arose and went into his house8Then the crowd, seeing this, was frightened, and they glorified God, who gave such power to men
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of faith, obedience, and the authority of God’s word in our lives. In the first reading from the prophet Amos, we see a clear conflict between Amos and Amaziah, the priest of Bethel. Amos, a humble herdsman called by God to prophesy, is rejected by Amaziah, who sees his message as a threat to the status quo. Amos insists that he is not a professional prophet but simply a man called by God to speak truth to power. His message is one of judgment and warning, but it is rooted in God’s love for His people. Amaziah, however, silences him and tells him to leave, refusing to accept the uncomfortable truth that Amos brings. This reading reminds us that God’s word often challenges us to confront our sins and injustices, even when it is difficult to hear.
In the Gospel, we encounter a similar dynamic. Jesus, who has just crossed the sea, is met with a paralytic brought to him by friends who have faith in his power. Jesus sees their faith and forgives the man’s sins, which shocks the scribes who accuse him of blasphemy. Jesus then heals the paralytic to demonstrate His authority to forgive sins. This passage shows us that faith is not just about believing in God’s power but also about trusting in His mercy and love. Just as Amos was called to speak God’s truth despite opposition, Jesus exercises His divine authority to heal both body and soul.
These readings call us to reflect on our own faith and how we respond to God’s word in our lives. Amos teaches us that true prophecy is not about seeking power or recognition but about faithfully conveying God’s message, even in the face of rejection. Jesus, on the other hand, shows us that faith and trust in God’s power can lead to healing and transformation. In our daily lives, we are often faced with choices: will we listen to God’s word and allow it to challenge us, or will we, like Amaziah, reject it because it is uncomfortable? Will we have the faith to trust in God’s mercy and power, even when it seems impossible? Let us strive to be like the friends of the paralytic, carrying those around us in prayer and trusting in God’s love and power to transform their lives and our own.