Daily Readings - Mon Jul 01 2024
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
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.