July 2, 2014

Reading

The Book of the Prophet Amos   5: 14-15, 21-24

5:14	Seek good and not evil, so that you may live. And the Lord God of hosts will be with you, just as you have asked.
5:15	Hate evil and love good, and establish judgment at the gate. Perhaps then the Lord God of hosts may have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.
5:21	I hate and have rejected your feasts; and I will not accept the odor from your gatherings.
5:22	For if you offer me holocausts and your gifts, I will not receive them; and I will not look upon the vows of your fatness.
5:23	Take away from me the tumult of your songs, and I will not listen to the canticles of your lyre.
5:24	And judgment will be revealed like water, and justice like a mighty torrent.

Gospel

The Holy Gospel According to Matthew    8: 28-34

8:28	And when he had arrived across the sea, into the region of the Gerasenes, he was met by two who had demons, who were so exceedingly savage, as they went out from among the tombs, that no one was able to cross by that way.
8:29	And behold, they cried out, saying: “What are we to you, O Jesus, the Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”
8:30	Now there was, not far from them, a herd of many swine feeding.
8:31	Then the demons petitioned him, saying: “If you cast us from here, send us into the herd of swine.”
8:32	And he said to them, “Go.” And they, going out, went into the swine. And behold, the entire herd suddenly rushed along a steep place into the sea. And they died in the waters.
8:33	Then the shepherds fled, and arriving in the city, they reported on all this, and on those who had had the demons.
8:34	And behold, the entire city went out to meet Jesus. And having seen him, they petitioned him, so that he would cross from their borders.