FIRST
READING: Amos 7:
10 - 17
10
Then Amazi'ah the priest of Bethel sent to Jerobo'am king of Israel,
saying, "Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the
house of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words.
11
For thus Amos has said, `Jerobo'am shall die by the sword, and Israel
must go into exile away from his land.'"
12
And Amazi'ah said to Amos, "O seer, go, flee away to the land of
Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there;
13
but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary,
and it is a temple of the kingdom."
14
Then Amos answered Amazi'ah, "I am no prophet, nor a prophet's
son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees,
15
and the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to
me, `Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'
16
"Now therefore hear the word of the LORD. You say, `Do not
prophesy against Israel, and do not preach against the house of
Isaac.'
17
Therefore thus says the LORD: `Your wife shall be a harlot in the
city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and
your land shall be parceled out by line; you yourself shall die in an
unclean land, and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its
land.'"
PSALM:
Psalms 19: 8 - 11
8
the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the
commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9
the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever; the ordinances of
the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
10
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter
also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
11
Moreover by them is thy servant warned; in keeping them there is
great reward.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 9: 1 - 8
1
And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city.
2
And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and
when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, "Take
heart, my son; your sins are forgiven."
3
And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is
blaspheming."
4
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil
in your hearts?
5
For which is easier, to say, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say,
`Rise and walk'?
6
But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to
forgive sins" -- he then said to the paralytic -- "Rise,
take up your bed and go home."
7
And he rose and went home.
8
When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who
had given such authority to men.
