Lectionary: 378
Reading 1
Amos 3:1-8; 4:11-12
Hear this word, O children of Israel, that the LORD pronounces over you,
over the whole family that I brought up from the land of Egypt:
You alone have I favored,
more than all the families of the earth;
Therefore I will punish you
for all your crimes.
Do two walk together
unless they have agreed?
Does a lion roar in the forest
when it has no prey?
Does a young lion cry out from its den
unless it has seized something?
Is a bird brought to earth by a snare
when there is no lure for it?
Does a snare spring up from the ground
without catching anything?
If the trumpet sounds in a city,
will the people not be frightened?
If evil befalls a city,
has not the LORD caused it?
Indeed, the Lord GOD does nothing
without revealing his plan
to his servants, the prophets.
The lion roars—
who will not be afraid!
The Lord GOD speaks—
who will not prophesy!
I brought upon you such upheaval
as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah:
you were like a brand plucked from the fire;
Yet you returned not to me,
says the LORD.
So now I will deal with you in my own way, O Israel!
and since I will deal thus with you,
prepare to meet your God, O Israel.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 5:4b-6a, 6b-7, 8
R. (9a) Lead me in your justice, Lord.
At dawn I bring my plea expectantly before you.
For you, O God, delight not in wickedness;
no evil man remains with you;
the arrogant may not stand in your sight.
R. Lead me in your justice, Lord.
You hate all evildoers;
you destroy all who speak falsehood;
The bloodthirsty and the deceitful
the LORD abhors.
R. Lead me in your justice, Lord.
But I, because of your abundant mercy,
will enter your house;
I will worship at your holy temple
in fear of you, O LORD.
R. Lead me in your justice, Lord.
Gospel
Matthew 8:23-27
As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.
Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea,
so that the boat was being swamped by waves;
but he was asleep.
They came and woke him, saying,
“Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”
Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,
and there was great calm.
The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this,
whom even the winds and the sea obey?”
REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: PEACE AND PUNISHMENT
"Lord, save us! We are lost!" –Matthew 8:25
In His justice, the Lord promises to punish those who have sinned, especially those He has favored (Am 3:2). Some of us have already been punished by major upheavals but still have not returned to the Lord (Am 4:11). So now the Lord will deal with us in His own way (Am 4:12). We must prepare to meet our God (Am 4:12).
As we face a major payment of "the wages of sin" (see Rm 6:23), we should:
repent. The Lord wants to give us mercy rather than justice, if we would only repent."correct those who are confused; the others you must rescue, snatching them from the fire" (Jude 22).believe in Jesus. He can take the worst storm and turn it into "complete calm" (Mt 8:26).
"Those times will be more distressful than any between God's work of creation and now, and for all time to come. Indeed, had the Lord not shortened the period, not a person would be saved. But for the sake of those He has chosen, He has shortened the days" (Mk 13:19-20). Jesus assures us: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Have faith in God and faith in Me" (Jn 14:1). Jesus promises: "I tell you all this that in Me you may find peace. You will suffer in the world. But take courage! I have overcome the world" (Jn 16:33). Peace!
PRAYER: Father, I will trust in You – no matter what.
PROMISE: "So now I will deal with you in My own way." –Am 4:12
PRAISE: Bl. Junipero left his "home" to lead six-thousand native Americans to their true home.
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