Reading 1 Am 3:1-8; 4:11-12
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 Ps 5:4b-6a, 6b-7, 8
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.
Alleluia Ps 130:5
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mt 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?”
SEEK PROPHECY
"Indeed, the Lord God does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants, the prophets." –Amos 3:7
The above verse has been an important foundation of Presentation Ministries since our beginning. Our ministry seeks to operate in the prophetic word of God, that now-word (Ez 33:30) which pierces hearts and brings conversion, discipleship, and Kingdom-victory. Prophecy is not necessarily telling what will happen in the future, although that can be part of prophecy. Prophecy is simply speaking or writing what God wants said at the moment He wants it said. The Holy Spirit knows exactly the right word for the right moment that will penetrate human hearts. This book, One Bread, One Body, is intentionally prophetic. We constantly pray to the Holy Spirit to hear His prophetic word and deliver it faithfully.
We have little time left; this world as we know it is passing away (1 Cor 7:31). Our own words often make no impact; God's prophetic word has great impact and cuts straight to the depths of the human heart. It either brings change or rebellion. Sometimes it brings danger or rejection to the messenger. Yet it also brings life and conversion to many.
A prophet has three jobs: listening faithfully and attentively to the Lord every day, discerning what God wants said, and speaking or writing God's prophetic word at the proper time. God does nothing without revealing His plan to His prophets (Am 3:7). This world desperately needs to know and obey God's plan. Are you willing to be a prophet? Ask the Lord for the spiritual gift of prophecy (see 1 Cor 14:1).
| PRAYER: | Lord, teach "me what to say and how to speak" (Jn 12:49). |
| PROMISE: | "The Lord God speaks–who will not prophesy!" –Am 3:8 |
| PRAISE: | St. Irenaeus preached the Truth to counter heresy and schism. |
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