Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 2, 2018
First Reading: Amos 2.6-10, 13-16
6This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals.7They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name.8They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. In the house of their god they drink wine taken as fines.9"I destroyed the Amorite before them, though he was tall as the cedars and strong as the oaks. I destroyed his fruit above and his roots below.10"I brought you up out of Egypt, and I led you forty years in the desert to give you the land of the Amorites.13"Now then, I will crush you as a cart crushes when loaded with grain.14The swift will not escape, the strong will not muster their strength, and the warrior will not save his life.15The archer will not stand his ground, the fleet-footed soldier will not get away, and the horseman will not save his life.16Even the bravest warriors will flee naked on that day," declares the LORD.
Psalm 50
1The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.2From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.3Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages.4He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people:5"Gather to me my consecrated ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice."6And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for God himself is judge. Selah7"Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God.8I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.9I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens,10for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.11I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.12If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.13Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?14Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High,15and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."16But to the wicked, God says: "What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips?17You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you.18When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers.19You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit.20You speak continually against your brother and slander your own mother's son.21These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you. But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face.22"Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue:23He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God."
Gospel: Matthew 8.18-22
18When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake.19Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."20Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."21Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."22But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of commitment and discipleship. In the first reading from the prophet Amos, we encounter a stern warning from God to the people of Israel. Despite their prosperity, they have turned away from justice and exploited the poor. Amos condemns their hypocrisy and warns of impending judgment if they do not return to a life of integrity and compassion. The context of this passage is a time of relative peace and wealth in Israel, but also of moral decay. Amos calls the people back to their covenant with God, reminding them that true faith must be lived out in how they treat the vulnerable.
In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the radical commitment required to follow him. When a scribe offers to follow Jesus anywhere, Jesus responds by highlighting the cost of discipleship—there is no guarantee of comfort or security. Another disciple asks to delay following Jesus to bury his father, but Jesus insists that the call to follow must take precedence. The context here is Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, where he is gathering disciples to join him in proclaiming the Kingdom of God. These exchanges emphasize that following Jesus is not a part-time or conditional commitment; it demands our full and immediate attention.
Both readings remind us that faith is not a passive or comfortable endeavor. Amos challenges us to live out our faith in justice and compassion, while Jesus calls us to leave behind distractions and follow him without hesitation. In our daily lives, this means being willing to make sacrifices, to stand up for what is right, and to prioritize our relationship with God above all else. The moral lesson is clear: discipleship comes with a cost, but it is a cost worth paying. Let us examine our own commitments and ask ourselves if we are truly living as followers of Christ, ready to embrace the challenges and uncertainties that come with that calling.