Daily Bible Reading

First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church

LECTIONARY
378

FIRST READING
AM 3:1-8; 4:11-12

Hear this word, O children of Israel, that the LORD pronounces over you,
over the whole family that I brought up from the land of Egypt:

You alone have I favored,
more than all the families of the earth;
Therefore I will punish you
for all your crimes.

Do two walk together
unless they have agreed?
Does a lion roar in the forest
when it has no prey?
Does a young lion cry out from its den
unless it has seized something?
Is a bird brought to earth by a snare
when there is no lure for it?
Does a snare spring up from the ground
without catching anything?
If the trumpet sounds in a city,
will the people not be frightened?
If evil befalls a city,
has not the LORD caused it?
Indeed, the Lord GOD does nothing
without revealing his plan
to his servants, the prophets.

The lion roars—
who will not be afraid!
The Lord GOD speaks—
who will not prophesy!

I brought upon you such upheaval
as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah:
you were like a brand plucked from the fire;
Yet you returned not to me,
says the LORD.

So now I will deal with you in my own way, O Israel!
and since I will deal thus with you,
prepare to meet your God, O Israel.

PSALM
PS 5:4B-6A, 6B-7, 8

Response: Lead me in your justice, Lord.

At dawn I bring my plea expectantly before you.
For you, O God, delight not in wickedness;
no evil man remains with you;
the arrogant may not stand in your sight.

You hate all evildoers;
you destroy all who speak falsehood;
The bloodthirsty and the deceitful
the LORD abhors.

But I, because of your abundant mercy,
will enter your house;
I will worship at your holy temple
in fear of you, O LORD.

GOSPEL
MT 8:23-27

As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.
Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea,
so that the boat was being swamped by waves;
but he was asleep.
They came and woke him, saying,
“Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”
Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,
and there was great calm.
The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this,
whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

Daily Reflection

30th June 2026

Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

A relationship is healthy when it is reciprocal. Ever since God chose the people of Israel and made covenant with them, He bestowed on them grace upon grace. Sadly, the chosen people failed to fulfill their responsibilities, repeatedly violating their covenantal relationship!

In the Gospel, Jesus encounters a similar attitude from his disciples. Despite all the manifestations of God’s providence and love they had experienced through Jesus’ teachings and healings and miracles, they failed to respond with faith when confronted with danger!

It’s easy to reciprocate when the going is good; but like the Israelites who were unfaithful when tested in the wilderness, or the disciples who were terribly afraid when threatened by a storm, do we lack faith and commitment when the going gets tough?

Faith is proved when our confidence in God remains strong even when He appears to remain silent!