Daily Readings - Thu Jul 05 2018
Amos
10Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent a message to Jeroboam king of Israel: "Amos is raising a conspiracy against you in the very heart of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words.11For this is what Amos is saying: "'Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will surely go into exile, away from their native land.'"12Then Amaziah said to Amos, "Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there.13Don't prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king's sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom."14Amos answered Amaziah, "I was neither a prophet nor a prophet's son, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees.15But the LORD took me from tending the flock and said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'16Now then, hear the word of the LORD. You say, "'Do not prophesy against Israel, and stop preaching against the house of Isaac.'17"Therefore this is what the LORD says: "'Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword. Your land will be measured and divided up, and you yourself will die in a pagan country. And Israel will certainly go into exile, away from their native land.'"
Matthew
1Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town.2Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven."3At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!"4Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?5Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'?6But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home."7And the man got up and went home.8When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that invite us to reflect on the nature of authority, obedience, and the transformative power of faith. The first reading from the prophet Amos recounts his confrontation with Amaziah, the priest of Bethel. Amos, a humble shepherd called by God to prophesy, is rejected and silenced by the religious establishment for speaking truths that challenge the status quo. His courage in the face of opposition reminds us that true prophecy often discomforts those in power, yet it is essential for calling people back to God.
In the Gospel, we find Jesus in Matthew’s account, who, with a word, forgives the sins of a paralytic and heals his body. This act of mercy and power shocks the scribes, who question Jesus’ authority to forgive sins. Yet, through this miracle, Jesus demonstrates that His authority comes not from human institutions but from God Himself. Both readings challenge us to consider where we place our trust and how we respond to God’s call in our lives. Amos and Jesus remind us that true authority is rooted in obedience to God’s will, even when it means facing resistance or stepping out in faith.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Are we like Amaziah, resisting the truths that make us uncomfortable, or are we like the paralytic, trusting in God’s power to transform us? Let us embrace the courage of Amos and the faith of the paralytic. May we, too, allow God to work through us, even when it means challenging the norms around us. In doing so, we may discover the freedom and healing that come from trusting in God’s plan and living with integrity and faith.