Readings for June 30, 2020, annotated, lectionary 378

This translation is from the New American Bible. The bolded hyperlinks to scriptural citations will take you to additional translations. Text highlighted in yellow tells us something about God’s nature or our relationship to Him. Text in green tells us to do something. Text in red describes things we should not do.  Commentary is in blue. 

Reading 1:Amos 3:1-8; 4:11-12  

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 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.

This passage is not a “one off;” scripture—and many believers’ own experience—makes it clear that God does indeed use adversity to get us back on track.

So how do we respond? By humbly coming to God, seeking His mercy, and changing our ways. Scriptures addressing those matters are collected in:

A Rosary Based Prayer About the Pandemic: What We Should Learn

Another Rosary Based Prayer About the Pandemic: Seeking God’s Mercy

A Third Rosary Based Prayer About the Pandemic: Changing Our Ways   

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 5:4-8 

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 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.

As in  yesterday's first reading,  we are called to pray in response to evil.

Other scriptures dealing with the dynamics described in this psalm are collected in  Wisdom Principles—God is a Refuge for Those Who Love Him

Alleluia: Psalm 130:5  

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

Gospel: Matthew 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?”

We go through tough, frightening, things even though we are following Jesus/in God’s will.

-      God has a greater purpose than sparing us from anxiety producing/stressful situations.

-      We have to trust that the good God will work through the situation will far outweigh the anxiety/stress/hardship we are going through. In this case, that good was preparing the Apostles for their ministries, the tremendous good that came from those ministries, and the edification of the millions/billions of folks who have been touched by this scripture describing this event.

-      See also  Sirach 2

The correct response in those situations is to seek Jesus’ help/deliverance. That is prayer; in this case very intense prayer.

-      This is consistent with  yesterday's first reading.

-      See also  James 1:2-6

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Jesus will help us to accomplish His will, even if we don’t “get it,” so long as we faithfully cling to Him.