Daily Readings - Thu Jul 05 2018

Amos

10Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words.11For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land.12Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:13But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court.14Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:15And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.16Now therefore hear thou the word of the LORD: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac.17Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.

Matthew

1And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.2And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.3And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.4And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?5For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?6But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.7And he arose, and departed to his house.8But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on the nature of authority, obedience, and the transformative power of faith. The first reading from the prophet Amos recounts his confrontation with Amaziah, the priest of Bethel. Amos, a humble shepherd called by God to prophesy, is rejected and silenced by the religious establishment for speaking truths that challenge the status quo. His courage in the face of opposition reminds us that true prophecy often discomforts those in power, yet it is essential for calling people back to God. In the Gospel, we find Jesus in Matthew’s account, who, with a word, forgives the sins of a paralytic and heals his body. This act of mercy and power shocks the scribes, who question Jesus’ authority to forgive sins. Yet, through this miracle, Jesus demonstrates that His authority comes not from human institutions but from God Himself. Both readings challenge us to consider where we place our trust and how we respond to God’s call in our lives. Amos and Jesus remind us that true authority is rooted in obedience to God’s will, even when it means facing resistance or stepping out in faith. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are we like Amaziah, resisting the truths that make us uncomfortable, or are we like the paralytic, trusting in God’s power to transform us? Let us embrace the courage of Amos and the faith of the paralytic. May we, too, allow God to work through us, even when it means challenging the norms around us. In doing so, we may discover the freedom and healing that come from trusting in God’s plan and living with integrity and faith.