I WILL FOLLOW YOU…

Amos 2:6-10,13-16
6 Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes–7 they that trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth, and turn aside the way of the afflicted; a man and his father go in to the same maiden, so that my holy name is profaned;
8 they lay themselves down beside every altar upon garments taken in pledge; and in the house of their God they drink the wine of those who have been fined.
9 “Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and who was as strong as the oaks; I destroyed his fruit above, and his roots beneath.10 Also I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and led you forty years in the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.

13 “Behold, I will press you down in your place, as a cart full of sheaves presses down.14 Flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not retain his strength, nor shall the mighty save his life;15 he who handles the bow shall not stand, and he who is swift of foot shall not save himself, nor shall he who rides the horse save his life;16 and he who is stout of heart among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day,” says the LORD.

Matthew 8:18-22 

18 Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side.19 And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.”21 Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”

MEDITATION

THE PROPHET AMOS bring to light the profane and immoral sexual transgressions that the people of Judah perpetrate against the poor and and those in distress. Those who are rich and skilled in the art of avoiding and fleeing from taking responsibility for their actions, shall be recond with in the same way that the Amorites were defeated.

THE GOSPEL READING: Overwhelmed by the large crowds who unabatedly descended upon Christ seeking his indulgence for all manner of stuff, He order His disciples to cross over to the other side via a boat, so as to escape from the looming crowd. A scribe who witnessed our Lords exasperated demeanor raised his hand and promises to be a follower of Christ, whereas another disciple, makes an apology for not being able to accompany Christ, because he must bury his deceased father. 

On the face of it, our Lords response to the bereaved man seems to contradict His teaching that we should care for our loved ones, however this is not the case. Our Lord expose our indifference or mediocre attituteds whereby we appeal to God on a pick and choose basis! When in dire need we rush to Christ, and once we have been strenghtened and things are going really well, we abondon Him to the extent that we go back to our old wicked prideful ways of sin and debauchery! We are called out by Christ to consistently follow Him, be it in good times and bad times, in the same way that a husband and wife remember their marriage vows and are inspired to remain commited to their covenant promises. 

LET US PRAY: Psalms 50:16-23 

16 But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite my statutes, or take my covenant on your lips?17 For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you.18 If you see a thief, you are a friend of his; and you keep company with adulterers.19 “You give your mouth free rein for evil, and your tongue frames deceit.20 You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother’s son.
21 These things you have done and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you, and lay the charge before you.22 “Mark this, then, you who forget God, lest I rend, and there be none to deliver!23 He who brings thanksgiving as his sacrifice honors me; to him who orders his way aright I will show the salvation of God!”

Commentary. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days