Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent word to Jeroboam,
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.
R. (10cd) The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
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.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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.
TODAY'S GOOD NEWS
In a dramatic confrontation with the priest in Bethel, Amos was roundly criticized for prophesying against the king and Israel. In today's terms, Amos was undermining morale and putting the war effort in jeopardy by predicting defeat. The priest of Bethel did not want to hear it. Amos had only one defense: the Lord has told him to speak. To hear criticism of one's own country is never easy. To be open to predictions of disaster--be they personal, national, or even planetary--is difficult. But all truth is of God, whether we are made comfortable or uneasy hearing it. To the extent that we can be a people steeped in God's own truth, our future will be secure.
Mark Neilsen
LIVING FAITH
Prayer Warriors
"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." (Matthew 9:2)
It began years ago with one simple prayer request via email. Someone my mom knew was struggling and needed prayers. The handful of us who received the email prayed this person through. Since then, my mother's Prayer Warrior list has grown. The group is now large and active. We're constantly praying for someone, and the results are astounding. When the faithful join forces and petition God on someone's behalf, the power is immense.
That's what happened with the paralytic in Matthew 9. It was the faith of the people who brought him on a stretcher that inspired Jesus to heal him.
When circumstances paralyze us, it's the faith and prayers of other believers that lift us up, bring us to God and move his heart to heal ours.
"Compassionate Christ, increase my faith so my prayers for others aid in their healing."
Claire McGarry
THE WORD AMONG US
"Which is easier?" (Matthew 9:5)
How would you answer that question? Is it easier to say "Your sins are forgiven" or to say "Rise and walk" (Matthew 9:5)? At first you might think that healing someone who is paralyzed is far more difficult--and far more important. Let's face it, we hear the words "I absolve you from your sins" in the Prayer of Absolution every time we go to Confession. And we routinely ask for and give forgiveness in our personal relationships. So hearing words of forgiveness might seem more commonplace or "easy."
But nothing could be further from the truth. And the key comes--again--from the Prayer of Absolution. How have our sins been forgiven? How has God reconciled the world to himself? "Through the death and resurrection of his Son." Jesus knew that the Father had given him the authority to forgive sins. But he also knew that forgiveness would cost him his life. Forgiveness was, in fact, the more difficult for Jesus to offer the man who was paralyzed!
As much as we might be amazed at the idea of bones and muscles and ligaments being knitted together to bring healing to a paralyzed man-and it is amazing!--we are offered a more hard-won healing in the forgiveness of our sins. It's available to us every time we come to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. When Jesus forgave the man in today's Gospel, he brought him to life spiritually. Jesus was freeing him from sin. He was removing the rejection and fear that came from the way other people had treated him.
Jesus offers us the same forgiveness, freedom, and healing. It might not be as outwardly visible as a physical healing. But it changes us deeply. It changes how we walk in this world, our decisions and actions. It lifts us up and brings us joy.
it is halfway through the year. How long has it been since you've gone to Confession? Your parish probably has times for Confession scheduled this weekend. Come to Jesus in the sacrament and receive the forgiveness and healing that he suffered so greatly to win for you.
"Jesus, thank you for the surpassing value of the healing and mercy that I can receive in the Sacrament of Reconciliation!"