Wrong Side of the Law

Jul 5: Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Today's readings are about edge cases in the law, first one side, then the other.

Reading 1

Am 8:4-6, 9-12

Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land! "When will the new moon be over," you ask, "that we may sell our grain, and the sabbath, that we may display the wheat? We will diminish the containers for measuring, add to the weights, and fix our scales for cheating! We will buy the lowly man for silver, and the poor man for a pair of sandals; even the refuse of the wheat we will sell!"

On that day, says the Lord GOD, I will make the sun set at midday and cover the earth with darkness in broad daylight. I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentations. I will cover the loins of all with sackcloth and make every head bald. I will make them mourn as for an only son, and bring their day to a bitter end.

Yes, days are coming, says the Lord GOD, when I will send famine upon the land: Not a famine of bread, or thirst for water, but for hearing the word of the LORD. Then shall they wander from sea to sea and rove from the north to the east In search of the word of the LORD, but they shall not find it.

There's competitive business practices, and then there's what these guys did. They're not trying to undercut their competitors; they're trying to cheat their own customers. And after cheating, they used their ill-gotten money to further abuse the poor.

Now, they might claim, "Hey, I weighed the grain, and he bought it." And that may be true, and might technically fall within the bounds of the law. But Amos points out that none of that actually fulfills the true spirit of the law, and for that, these greedy merchants will be punished.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 119:2, 10, 20, 30, 40, 131

R.    (Matthew 4:4) One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Blessed are they who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all their heart.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
With all my heart I seek you;
let me not stray from your commands.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
My soul is consumed with longing
for your ordinances at all times.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
The way of truth I have chosen;
I have set your ordinances before me.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Behold, I long for your precepts;
in your justice give me life.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
I gasp with open mouth
in my yearning for your commands.
R. One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

The psalmist sings about the value of God's law, but not as restrictions to his actions. Unlike the business people in the first reading, who were anxiously waiting for the sabbath to be over so they could get back to ripping people off.

The Psalmist seeks to follow the commandments with his whole heart, i.e. with love. He won't just avoid doing evil; he yearns to actually do good.

Alleluia

Mt 11:28

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

We keep trying and trying to do the right thing. We often, usually fail. Jesus, thankfully, will give us a break.

Gospel

Mt 9:9-13

As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him.

While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

He heard this and said, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

The irony of Jesus’ last line, addressed to the Pharisees, is that we are all sinners. He’s here for everyone, if we only recognize that we are in need of mercy.