Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 2, 2018
First Reading: Amos 2.6-10, 13-16
6Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals--7those who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth and turn aside the way of the afflicted; a man and his father go in to the same girl, so that my holy name is profaned;8they lay themselves down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge, and in the house of their God they drink the wine of those who have been fined.9"Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars and who was as strong as the oaks; I destroyed his fruit above and his roots beneath.10Also it was I who brought you up out of the land of Egypt and led you forty years in the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.13"Behold, I will press you down in your place, as a cart full of sheaves presses down.14Flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not retain his strength, nor shall the mighty save his life;15he who handles the bow shall not stand, and he who is swift of foot shall not save himself, nor shall he who rides the horse save his life;16and he who is stout of heart among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day," declares the LORD.
Psalm 50
1The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.3Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest.4He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people:5"Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!"6The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! Selah7"Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God.8Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me.9I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds.10For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.11I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.12"If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.13Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?14Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High,15and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."16But to the wicked God says: "What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips?17For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you.18If you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and you keep company with adulterers.19"You give your mouth free rein for evil, and your tongue frames deceit.20You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother's son.21These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.22"Mark this, then, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver!23The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!"
Gospel: Matthew 8.18-22
18Now when Jesus saw a great crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side.19And a scribe came up and said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."20And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."21Another of the disciples said to him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."22And Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of commitment and discipleship. In the first reading from the prophet Amos, we encounter a stern warning from God to the people of Israel. Despite their prosperity, they have turned away from justice and exploited the poor. Amos condemns their hypocrisy and warns of impending judgment if they do not return to a life of integrity and compassion. The context of this passage is a time of relative peace and wealth in Israel, but also of moral decay. Amos calls the people back to their covenant with God, reminding them that true faith must be lived out in how they treat the vulnerable.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the radical commitment required to follow him. When a scribe offers to follow Jesus anywhere, Jesus responds by highlighting the cost of discipleship—there is no guarantee of comfort or security. Another disciple asks to delay following Jesus to bury his father, but Jesus insists that the call to follow must take precedence. The context here is Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, where he is gathering disciples to join him in proclaiming the Kingdom of God. These exchanges emphasize that following Jesus is not a part-time or conditional commitment; it demands our full and immediate attention.
Both readings remind us that faith is not a passive or comfortable endeavor. Amos challenges us to live out our faith in justice and compassion, while Jesus calls us to leave behind distractions and follow him without hesitation. In our daily lives, this means being willing to make sacrifices, to stand up for what is right, and to prioritize our relationship with God above all else. The moral lesson is clear: discipleship comes with a cost, but it is a cost worth paying. Let us examine our own commitments and ask ourselves if we are truly living as followers of Christ, ready to embrace the challenges and uncertainties that come with that calling.