Daily Readings - Thu Jul 04 2024
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of faith, obedience, and the authority of God’s word in our lives. In the first reading from the prophet Amos, we see a clear conflict between Amos and Amaziah, the priest of Bethel. Amos, a humble herdsman called by God to prophesy, is rejected by Amaziah, who sees his message as a threat to the status quo. Amos insists that he is not a professional prophet but simply a man called by God to speak truth to power. His message is one of judgment and warning, but it is rooted in God’s love for His people. Amaziah, however, silences him and tells him to leave, refusing to accept the uncomfortable truth that Amos brings. This reading reminds us that God’s word often challenges us to confront our sins and injustices, even when it is difficult to hear.
In the Gospel, we encounter a similar dynamic. Jesus, who has just crossed the sea, is met with a paralytic brought to him by friends who have faith in his power. Jesus sees their faith and forgives the man’s sins, which shocks the scribes who accuse him of blasphemy. Jesus then heals the paralytic to demonstrate His authority to forgive sins. This passage shows us that faith is not just about believing in God’s power but also about trusting in His mercy and love. Just as Amos was called to speak God’s truth despite opposition, Jesus exercises His divine authority to heal both body and soul.
These readings call us to reflect on our own faith and how we respond to God’s word in our lives. Amos teaches us that true prophecy is not about seeking power or recognition but about faithfully conveying God’s message, even in the face of rejection. Jesus, on the other hand, shows us that faith and trust in God’s power can lead to healing and transformation. In our daily lives, we are often faced with choices: will we listen to God’s word and allow it to challenge us, or will we, like Amaziah, reject it because it is uncomfortable? Will we have the faith to trust in God’s mercy and power, even when it seems impossible? Let us strive to be like the friends of the paralytic, carrying those around us in prayer and trusting in God’s love and power to transform their lives and our own.