Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 1, 2024
First Reading: Amos 2.6-10, 13-16
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.
Psalm 50
1The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.3Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.4He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.5Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.6And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.7Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.8I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.9I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.10For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.11I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.12If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.13Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?14Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:15And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.16But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?17Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.18When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.19Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.20Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.21These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.22Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.23Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
Gospel: Matthew 8.18-22
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
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful messages that challenge us to reflect on our faith and actions. The first reading from Amos confronts us with a stern warning from God to the people of Israel, who have turned away from justice and exploited the vulnerable. Amos highlights their injustices, such as selling the just for silver and ignoring the humble, and reminds them of God's past mercies and deliverance. Yet, despite these blessings, their actions have led to a warning of impending judgment, where their strength and might will fail them. This serves as a reminder that our faith must be accompanied by a commitment to justice and compassion for the marginalized.
The Gospel reading from Matthew shifts our focus to the personal cost of discipleship. Jesus, in his interaction with the scribe and the disciple, emphasizes the sacrifices required to follow him. The scribe's willingness to follow is met with a reality check about the hardships involved, while the disciple is asked to prioritize his faith over even the significant duty of burying his father. This teaches us that following Jesus requires us to re-evaluate our priorities and be willing to make sacrifices, trusting in God's providence over our own comforts.
Together, these readings remind us that faith is not merely a matter of belief but of action. We are called to live justly, standing up for the oppressed and using our resources responsibly. Additionally, we must be willing to make personal sacrifices, placing our relationship with God above worldly concerns. Let us examine our lives to ensure we are living out our faith with both compassion and commitment, trusting in God's guidance as we navigate the challenges of discipleship.