Daily Readings - Fri Jul 06 2018
Amos
4Hear this, you who trample on the needy and bring the poor of the land to an end,5saying, "When will the new moon be over, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may offer wheat for sale, that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great and deal deceitfully with false balances,6that we may buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals and sell the chaff of the wheat?"9"And on that day," declares the Lord GOD, "I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.10I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation; I will bring sackcloth on every waist and baldness on every head; I will make it like the mourning for an only son and the end of it like a bitter day.11"Behold, the days are coming," declares the Lord GOD, "when I will send a famine on the land--not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.12They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the LORD, but they shall not find it.
Matthew
9As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him.10And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.11And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"12But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.13Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages from the Prophet Amos and the Gospel of Matthew, both emphasizing God's deep concern for justice and mercy. Amos condemns the exploitation of the poor by the wealthy, who prioritize profit over righteousness, leading to a spiritual famine—a lack of hearing God's word. In contrast, Matthew's Gospel shows Jesus embracing sinners, calling Matthew, a tax collector, and dining with those marginalized, teaching that mercy is paramount over ritual sacrifice.
These readings are set against the backdrop of societal inequality and religious hypocrisy. Amos speaks during a prosperous yet unjust time in Israel, where the wealthy oppress the poor. Matthew's narrative challenges the Pharisees' strict legalism, highlighting Jesus' mission to the outcasts. Both texts underscore God's desire for justice and compassion over external piety.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to reflect on our treatment of others, especially the vulnerable. We must act justly, avoiding exploitation and greed, and instead show mercy and humility. Jesus' example teaches us to reach out to those on the margins, embracing them with love and compassion. The moral lesson is clear: true faith is demonstrated through our commitment to justice and mercy, living as humble and compassionate followers of Christ.