FIRST READING
“They trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth.”
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Amos (Amos 2:6-10.13-16)
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 — 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; 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. “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. 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. “Behold, I will press you down in your place, as a cart full of sheaves presses down. Flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not retain his strength, nor shall the mighty save his life; 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; and he who is stout of heart among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day,” says the Lord.
The word of the Lord
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 50:16bc-17.18—20.21.22-23 (R. 22a)
R/. Mark this, you who are forgetful of God
“How can you recite my commandments,
and take my covenant on your lips,
you who despise correction,
and cast my words behind you?” R/.
“You who see a thief and befriend him,
who throw in your lot with adulterers,
who unbridle your mouth for evil,
and yoke your tongue to deceit,
you who sit and malign your own brother,
and slander your own mother’s son?” R/.
R/. Mark this, you who are forgetful of God
“You do this, and should I keep silence?
Do you think that I am like you?
I accuse you, lay the charge before you.” R/.
“Mark this, you who are forgetful of God,
lest I seize you and none can deliver you.
A sacrifice of praise gives me honour,
and to one whose way is blameless,
I will show the salvation of God.” R/.
ALLELUIA Psalm 95:7d.8a
Alleluia. Today, harden not your hearts, but listen to the voice of the Lord. Alleluia
GOSPEL
“Follow Me’
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 8: 18-22)
At that time: When Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 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.” Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”
The Gospel of the Lord.