Daily Readings

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 syrupor 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 Christand 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 Manhas 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 aweand glorified God who had given such authority to men.

Seek good and not evil,that you may live;Then truly will the LORD, the God of hosts,be with you as you claim!Hate evil and love good,and let justice prevail at the gate;Then it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts,will have pity on the remnant of Joseph.I hate, I spurn your feasts, says the LORD,I take no pleasure in your solemnities;Your cereal offerings I will not accept,nor consider your stall-fed peace offerings.Away with your noisy songs!I will not listen to the melodies of your harps.But if you would offer me burnt offerings,then let justice surge like water,and goodness like an unfailing stream.

R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God.“Hear, my people, and I will speak;Israel, I will testify against you;God, your God, am I.”R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,for your burnt offerings are before me always.I take from your house no bullock,no goats out of your fold.”R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.“For mine are all the animals of the forests,beasts by the thousand on my mountains.I know all the birds of the air,and whatever stirs in the plains, belongs to me.”R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.“If I were hungry, I should not tell you,for mine are the world and its fullness.Do I eat the flesh of strong bulls,or is the blood of goats my drink?”R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.“Why do you recite my statutes,and profess my covenant with your mouth,Though you hate disciplineand cast my words behind you?”R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truththat we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes,two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him.They were so savage that no one could travel by that road.They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God?Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?”Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding.The demons pleaded with him,“If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.”And he said to them, “Go then!”They came out and entered the swine,and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the seawhere they drowned.The swineherds ran away,and when they came to the town they reported everything,including what had happened to the demoniacs.Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus,and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district. 

Hear this word, O children of Israel, that the Lord pronounces over you,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 youfor all your crimes.Do two walk togetherunless they have agreed?Does a lion roar in the forestwhen it has no prey?Does a young lion cry out from its denunless it has seized something?Is a bird brought to earth by a snarewhen there is no lure for it?Does a snare spring up from the groundwithout 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 nothingwithout revealing his planto 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 upheavalas 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.

R. (9a)  Lead me in your justice, Lord.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 deceitfulthe 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 templein fear of you, O Lord.R. Lead me in your justice, Lord.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.I trust in the Lord;my soul trusts in his word.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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?”