Daily Readings - Mon Jun 27 2022
Amos
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.
Matthew
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 challenge us to reflect on our relationship with God and our commitment to living out His will in our lives. In the first reading from Amos, we hear the prophet’s stern warning to Israel for their injustices and neglect of the poor. Amos condemns the exploitation of the vulnerable and the corruption of those who have turned away from God’s ways. He reminds the people of the great favors God has shown them, such as their deliverance from Egypt, but also warns them of the consequences of their sins. The passage is a call to repentance, urging the people to turn back to God and live justly.
In the Gospel, Matthew presents us with two encounters with Jesus that highlight the cost of discipleship. The first is a scribe who expresses a willingness to follow Jesus anywhere, but Jesus responds by revealing the difficulties and uncertainties of His mission. The second is a disciple who asks to bury his father first, but Jesus insists that following Him must take precedence. These exchanges emphasize that following Christ is not about comfort or convenience but about radical commitment. Jesus is not looking for half-hearted followers but for those who are willing to prioritize His call above all else.
These readings remind us that our faith cannot be compartmentalized or reduced to mere convenience. Like the Israelites in Amos’ time, we are called to live with integrity and justice, especially toward the marginalized. Like the disciples in Matthew’s Gospel, we are called to embrace the challenges of following Christ without hesitation. In our daily lives, this means examining our priorities, letting go of attachments that distract us from God, and being willing to make sacrifices for the sake of the Kingdom. May we strive to live with the courage and commitment that faith demands, trusting that God will guide us through every trial and uncertainty.