Daily Readings - Thu Jul 04 2024
Amos
10Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, "Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words.11For thus Amos has said, "'Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel must go into exile away from his land.'"12And Amaziah said to Amos, "O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there,13but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom."14Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, "I was no prophet, nor a prophet's son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs.15But the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'16Now therefore hear the word of the LORD. "You say, 'Do not prophesy against Israel, and do not preach against the house of Isaac.'17Therefore Thus says the LORD: "'Your wife shall be a prostitute in the city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be divided up with a measuring line; you yourself shall die in an unclean land, and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land.'"
Matthew
1And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city.2And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven."3And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming."4But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?5For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'?6But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he then said to the paralytic--"Rise, pick up your bed and go home."7And he rose and went home.8When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority 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.