St. Irenaeus, bishop  & martyr

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Amos 3:1-8; 4:11-12

Hear this  word

Which Yahweh speaks against you, people of Israel, against the whole family which he brought up from the land of Egypt.

 “Only you have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will call you to account for all your wrongdoings.”

 Do two walk together unless they have agreed?

 Does a lion roar in the forest when it has no prey? Does a young lion growl in its den unless it has seized something?

 Does a bird get caught in a snare if the snare has not been baited?

Does a tiger spring up from the ground un­less it has caught something?

If a trumpet sounds in a city, will the people not be frightened?

If disaster strikes a city, has not Yahweh caused it?  Yet Yahweh does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants, the prophets.  If the lion roars, who will not be afraid? If Yah­weh speaks, who will not proph­esy?

“I overthrew you, a divine punishment, as happened to Sodom and Go­morrah; you were like a brand snatched from the blaze, yet you never returned to me,” says Yahweh.

 “Therefore I will deal with you in my own way, Israel, and since I will do this to you, prepare, Israel, to meet your God!”

 

Ps 5:4b-6a, 6b-7, 8

Lead me into your justice, Lord.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊   

Matthew 8:23-27

 Jesus got into the boat and his disciples followed him.   With­­­out warning a fierce storm hit the lake, with waves sweeping the boat. But Jesus was asleep.

 They woke him and cried, “Lord save us! We are lost!”   But Jesus answered, “Why are you so afraid, you of little faith?” Then he stood up and ordered the wind and sea; and it became completely calm.

 The people were astonished. They said, “What kind of man is he? Even the winds and the sea obey him.”

 

 Gospel Reflection：

Storm in a Teacup

Let’s debate:

I say:  ”Who wouldn’t be afraid In such storm? Weren’t the disciples human?”

You say: “But Jesus is in the boat with the disciples. Why be afraid?”

I say: “But He is asleep. How does he know?”

You say: Is it not written, “ I slept, but my heart was awake”? (Song 5:2)

I say: ”Then he should have done something.”

You say: “  He is the Word that created the world!”

I say: “But in sleep, isn’t the Word silent?”

Men of little faith! Why did they doubt? At the end of it all, everything turned out to be a mere storm in a teacup (or tempest in a teapot, if you prefer.).

For, even in his sleep, he knows; even in his silence, he commands. We can rest assured.

 

"The business of the Christian is nothing else but to be ever preparing for death."

                                                                   〜〜〜 ST.IRENAEUS  〜〜〜