The First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church 

*** 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 wrongdoing.”

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 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 punishmet, 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

Time and again, when something would go wrong, the disciples aould either complain or cry out in fear. Again and again, Jesus comes to their aid and (in several occasions) chides them for their lack of faith.

It will take some time before these men, plucked by Jesus from their ordinary day-to-day activities, will become the fearless, zealous, and committed leaders of the church that they will eventually be.

There’s a profound patience with them that we see in Jesus. He knew their fears, their weaknesses, their faults. He knew that it would take time before they were ready to lead.

But he was patient with them. He would gently chide or rebuke them from time to time. But he never gave up on them, just as he would never give up on us, no matter how many times we fall, no matter how many times we find ourselves, like the disciples, terrified and crying to him for help, because our faith is still not strong enough.