Reading 1 Am 8:4-6, 9-12
and destroy the poor of the land!
“When will the new moon be over,” you ask,
“that we may sell our grain,
and the sabbath, that we may display the wheat?”
We will diminish the containers for measuring,
add to the weights,
and fix our scales for cheating!
We will buy the lowly man for silver,
and the poor man for a pair of sandals;
even the refuse of the wheat we will sell!”
On that day, says the Lord GOD,
I will make the sun set at midday
and cover the earth with darkness in broad daylight.
I will turn your feasts into mourning
and all your songs into lamentations.
I will cover the loins of all with sackcloth
and make every head bald.
I will make them mourn as for an only son,
and bring their day to a bitter end.
Yes, days are coming, says the Lord GOD,
when I will send famine upon the land:
Not a famine of bread, or thirst for water,
but for hearing the word of the LORD.
Then shall they wander from sea to sea
and rove from the north to the east
In search of the word of the LORD,
but they shall not find it.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 119:2, 10, 20, 30, 40, 131
Blessed are they who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all their heart.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
With all my heart I seek you;
let me not stray from your commands.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
My soul is consumed with longing
for your ordinances at all times.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
The way of truth I have chosen;
I have set your ordinances before me.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Behold, I long for your precepts;
in your justice give me life.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
I gasp with open mouth
in my yearning for your commands.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Alleluia Mt 11:28
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mt 9:9-13
As Jesus passed by,he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, “Follow me.”
And he got up and followed him.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners came
and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples,
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
He heard this and said,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
FAMISHED
"My soul is consumed with longing for Your ordinances at all times." –Psalm 119:20
In our selfishness and injustice, we are setting ourselves up for a famine for hearing the Word of the Lord (Am 8:11). When we sin, we contribute to a society which closes its ears and hearts to God's Word. In many corporations, God's Word is not welcome and not tolerated. For Christians such as myself who work in such situations of a famine for God's Word in the workplace, we long for His Word. During our time at work, we say: "I long for Your precepts…hide not Your commands from me" (Ps 119:40, 19). "I gasp with open mouth in my yearning for Your commands" (Ps 119:131). A famine for hearing God's Word results in widespread spiritual anorexia, loss of vision, and demoralized, even perishing people (Prv 29:18).
The Word of God, especially the prophetic word, brings life in place of dead bones (Ez 37:4ff). It brings light, strength, nourishment, vision, wisdom, courage, and victory. It also brings persecution to those who spread it.
Jesus sees His hungry people and commands His disciples: "Feed My sheep" (see Jn 21:15-17). Will you spread the Word of the Lord and help stop the famine?
| PRAYER: | Lord Jesus, not on bread alone are we to live but on every word that proceeds from Your mouth (Mt 4:4). Help us do our part in spreading Your Word and stopping the famine. |
| PROMISE: | "It is mercy I desire and not sacrifice." –Mt 9:13 |
| PRAISE: | St. Junipero worked to save souls in Spain, Mexico and California. He baptized over six thousand American Indians during his ministry. |
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