Daily Readings - Fri Jul 01 2022
Amos
4Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,5Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?6That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?9And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:10And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.11Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:12And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
Matthew
9And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.10And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.11And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?12But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.13But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
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.