Daily Readings - Fri Jul 01 2022
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
The readings today offer a powerful message about justice, compassion, and the call to follow God’s way. In the first reading from Amos, we hear a prophet denouncing those who exploit the poor and the vulnerable. Amos speaks of a society that has become so consumed by greed and injustice that it has forgotten the true meaning of living as God’s people. He warns of a time when there will be a famine—not of bread or water—but of hearing the word of the Lord. This is a stark reminder that turning away from God’s justice and mercy leads to spiritual emptiness.
In the Gospel, we see Jesus embodying the very mercy and justice that Amos calls for. Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him. Tax collectors were often seen as sinners and outcasts because of their collaboration with the Roman authorities and their reputation for dishonesty. Yet, Jesus does not shun Matthew; instead, he invites him to join him. When the Pharisees criticize Jesus for eating with sinners, Jesus responds by saying, “I have not come to call the just, but sinners.” This is a profound statement. It reminds us that none of us are without sin, and that God’s mercy is not reserved for the perfect but for those who recognize their need for it.
These readings challenge us to reflect on our own lives. Are we like the Pharisees, quick to judge others while ignoring our own shortcomings? Or are we like Matthew, willing to leave behind our old ways and follow Jesus? Amos and Jesus both call us to live with compassion and justice. We are reminded that true faith is not about outward appearances or rituals but about living in a way that reflects God’s love and mercy. Let us ask ourselves: Do we treat others with kindness and respect, especially those who may be marginalized or overlooked? Do we seek to grow in holiness by acknowledging our own sinfulness and turning to God? The readings today invite us to embrace a life of humility, mercy, and justice, just as Jesus did.