Reading 1 Am 7:10-17
king of Israel:
“Amos has conspired against you here within Israel;
the country cannot endure all his words.
For this is what Amos says:
Jeroboam shall die by the sword,
and Israel shall surely be exiled from its land.”
To Amos, Amaziah said:
“Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah!
There earn your bread by prophesying,
but never again prophesy in Bethel;
for it is the king’s sanctuary and a royal temple.”
Amos answered Amaziah, “I was no prophet,
nor have I belonged to a company of prophets;
I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores.
The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me,
‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’
Now hear the word of the LORD!”
You say: prophesy not against Israel,
preach not against the house of Isaac.
Now thus says the LORD:
Your wife shall be made a harlot in the city,
and your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword;
Your land shall be divided by measuring line,
and you yourself shall die in an unclean land;
Israel shall be exiled far from its land.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
Alleluia 2 Cor 5:19
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mt 9:1-8
After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town.And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
“Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.”
At that, some of the scribes said to themselves,
“This man is blaspheming.”
Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said,
“Why do you harbor evil thoughts?
Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?
But that you may know that the Son of Man
has authority on earth to forgive sins”–
he then said to the paralytic,
“Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
He rose and went home.
When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe
and glorified God who had given such authority to men.
CHICKEN SOUP
"Have courage, son." –Matthew 9:2
The first words Jesus said to the paralyzed man were: "Have courage, son." We need courage to be freed from the paralysis of sin and fear. We should be like Amos, who refused to be intimidated, stampeded out of town, or manipulated by Amaziah (see Am 7:12ff). We need to be like Jesus, Who, when accused of blasphemy and thereby threatened with execution, stood His ground (see Mt 9:4ff).
However, we have all been like Peter, who let himself become paralyzed by fear and then denied Christ three times (see Lk 22:57-60). By the Spirit, we can also be like Peter after he repented. We can stand up under any circumstances, even before our own families or thousands of people, and witness for Jesus (see Acts 2:14).
The Lord will give us the power to be like Him, to be so courageous that we will even die rather than give in to the pressure to sin, deny Him, or not witness for Him. We become courageous by the power of the Holy Spirit, for "the Spirit God has given us is no cowardly Spirit, but rather One that makes us strong, loving, and wise" (2 Tm 1:7). Let's say to each other: "Pray for me that God may put His word on my lips, that I may courageously make known the mystery of the gospel...pray that I may have courage to proclaim it as I ought" (Eph 6:19-20).
Jesus is saying to us: "Have courage, sons and daughters" (see Mt 9:2). Repent and receive the Spirit of courage.
| PRAYER: | Father, may I be courageous in situations where I have previously been cowardly. |
| PROMISE: | " 'To help you realize that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins' – He then said to the paralyzed man – 'Stand up! Roll up your mat, and go home.' The man stood up." –Mt 9:6-7 |
| PRAISE: | The First Martyrs of Rome have inspired centuries of Christians by their God-given faithfulness. |
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