Daily Readings - Mon Jun 27 2022
Amos
6Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;7That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name:8And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.9Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath.10Also I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and led you forty years through the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.13Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves.14Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself:15Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself: neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself.16And he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, saith the LORD.
Matthew
18Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.19And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.20And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.21And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.22But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their 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.