Sin is inherently destructive.

It physically, emotionally,

and spiritually harms us by introducing brokenness, guilt,

and slavery to bad habits into our lives.

It disrupts our relationship with the Creator.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Amos 7:10-17

Amaziah, the priest of Bethel,

Then sent word to king Jeroboam of Israel, "Amos is conspiring against you

in the very center of Israel; what he says goes too far. These are his very words:

Jeroboam shall die by the sword and Israel shall be exiled from its land."

Amaziah then said to Amos, "Off with you, seer, go back to the land of Judah.

Earn your bread there by prophesying. But never again prophesy at Bethel,

for it is a king's Sanctuary and a national shrine."

 

Amos replied to Amaziah, "I am not a prophet or one of the fellow prophets.

I am a breeder of sheep and a dresser of sycamore trees.

But Yahweh took me from shepherding the flock and said to me: Go, prophesy to my people Israel.

Now hear the word of Yahweh, you who say: No more prophecy against Israel,

no more insults against the family of Isaac! This is what Yahweh says:

Your wife shall be made a harlot in the city, your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword,

your land shall be divided up and given to others, and you, yourself,

shall die in a foreign land, for Israel shall be driven far from its land."

 

Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11

The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Matthew 9:1-8

Jesus got back into the boat, crossed the lake again, and came to his hometown.

Here, they brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a bed.

Jesus saw their faith and said to the paralytic, "Courage, my son! Your sins are forgiven."

Some teachers of the law said within themselves, "This man insults God."

Jesus was aware of what they were thinking; and said, "Why have you such evil thoughts?

 

Which is easier to say: 'Your sins are forgiven' or 'Stand up and walk'?

But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins,"

he said to the paralyzed man, "Stand up! Take your stretcher and go home!"

The man got up, and went home. When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe,

and praised God for giving such power to human beings.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

 Light and darkness coexist within us.

Sin can lead us to total paralysis, preventing us from loving and raising a cloudy wall

that confuses light with darkness. Today, we speak little of sin

as if it were an innocent fragility without consequence. But this is not the case:

light and darkness coexist within us. We are born with this burden. However,

there is good news: we can free ourselves from it. From this perspective,

spiritual life consists of seeing ourselves in the light of God and identifying

what distances us from Him. Looking inwardly, sin is not merely

 

a transgression of divine command but a violation of God's good plan for our full realization.

It is God who created us, and He alone knows what builds us up and what destroys us.

Sin is harmful because it can hurt and destroy us. With this perspective, discovering our shadows,

giving them an identity, and being authentic in facing them are possible actions we can take,

thanks to the enlightenment that the Holy Spirit provides.

May the Lord help us entrust ourselves to Him, who can free us from all guilt and darkness!