Ss Processus and Martinian were martyrs of ancient Rome. According to legend, they were imperial soldiers assigned as the warders of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in the Mamertine Prison. The apostles converted their jailers after a spring flowed miraculously in the prison.

 

First Reading: (Amos 2:6-10, 13-16)

 

Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes -- they that tram­ple the head of the poor into the dust of the earth, and turn aside the way of the afflicted; a man and his father go in to the same maid­en, so that my holy name is profaned; they lay themselves down beside every altar upon garments taken in pledge; and in the house of their God they drink the wine of those who have been fined. “Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and who was as strong as the oaks; I destroyed his fruit above, and his roots beneath. Also I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and led you forty years in the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite. “Behold, I will press you down in your place, as a cart full of sheaves presses down. Flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not retain his strength, nor shall the mighty save his life; he who handles the bow shall not stand, and he who is swift of foot shall not save himself, nor shall he who rides the horse save his life; and he who is stout of heart among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day,” says the Lord.

 

Ps 49:16-23

R./ Mark this, you who never think of God.

 

Gospel: (Mt 8:18-22) When Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”

 

Reflection:

 

Following Jesus involves a call and a response. In the Gospel a scribe comes to Jesus expressing his willingness to follow Jesus. In response to his willing­ness, Jesus just presents his situation saying, the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head. Probably it was contrary to his expectations. Jesus only calls on him to examine his motives, and consider well the consequences. The true discipleship involves facing challenges. Another person when called, places a condition before the Lord that he first goes and buries his father. True, it is the duty of a son to bury his father. But Jesus tells let the dead bury their own dead. Once we give in to the conditions in following the Lord the opportunities are lost.