Daily Readings - Mon Jun 27 2022
Amos
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.
Matthew
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 challenge us to reflect on our relationship with God and our commitment to living out His will in our lives. In the first reading from Amos, we hear the prophet’s stern warning to Israel for their injustices and neglect of the poor. Amos condemns the exploitation of the vulnerable and the corruption of those who have turned away from God’s ways. He reminds the people of the great favors God has shown them, such as their deliverance from Egypt, but also warns them of the consequences of their sins. The passage is a call to repentance, urging the people to turn back to God and live justly.
In the Gospel, Matthew presents us with two encounters with Jesus that highlight the cost of discipleship. The first is a scribe who expresses a willingness to follow Jesus anywhere, but Jesus responds by revealing the difficulties and uncertainties of His mission. The second is a disciple who asks to bury his father first, but Jesus insists that following Him must take precedence. These exchanges emphasize that following Christ is not about comfort or convenience but about radical commitment. Jesus is not looking for half-hearted followers but for those who are willing to prioritize His call above all else.
These readings remind us that our faith cannot be compartmentalized or reduced to mere convenience. Like the Israelites in Amos’ time, we are called to live with integrity and justice, especially toward the marginalized. Like the disciples in Matthew’s Gospel, we are called to embrace the challenges of following Christ without hesitation. In our daily lives, this means examining our priorities, letting go of attachments that distract us from God, and being willing to make sacrifices for the sake of the Kingdom. May we strive to live with the courage and commitment that faith demands, trusting that God will guide us through every trial and uncertainty.