Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 6, 2024
First Reading: Amos 9.11-15
11"In that day I will restore David's fallen tent. I will repair its broken places, restore its ruins, and build it as it used to be,12so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear my name, "declares the LORD, who will do these things.13"The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes. New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills.14I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.15I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them," says the LORD your God.
Psalm 85
1You showed favor to your land, O LORD; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.2You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins. Selah3You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger.4Restore us again, O God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us.5Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations?6Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?7Show us your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.8I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints- but let them not return to folly.9Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.10Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.11Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.12The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.13Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.
Gospel: Matthew 9.14-17
14Then John's disciples came and asked him, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"15Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.16"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.17Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages of hope and renewal. The prophet Amos envisions a future where God restores the tabernacle of David, rebuilding and cultivating the land, promising a time of abundance and peace. This prophecy speaks of a divine plan to bring prosperity to His people, emphasizing trust in God's promise of restoration. In the Gospel, Jesus uses metaphors to illustrate the newness He brings, comparing His presence to a joyful wedding and the need for new structures to hold the new wine of His teachings. He highlights that His time with the disciples is one of celebration, but also prepares them for a future without His physical presence, where fasting will have its place.
Both readings underscore the theme of renewal and the necessity of embracing change. Amos's vision and Jesus's teachings remind us that God's work is ever-evolving, requiring us to adapt and trust in His plan. Just as old wineskins cannot contain new wine, our old ways of thinking and being must give way to the new life Christ offers.
In our daily lives, this means staying open to the Spirit's leading, embracing change, and trusting in God's timing. As we face challenges, we can find hope in knowing that God is always working towards renewal. Let us remain joyful and open, allowing God to cultivate new life in us, just as He promised to restore His people.