First Reading: Amos 7:12-15
Reflection:
The Prophet Amos lived during the period of Old Testament history when the Kingdom of Israel was divided. The northern ten tribes had divided from the southern two tribes. The north kept the name Israel and the south took the name Judah (after its most prominent tribe). This was a dark period for the Israelites. The south had the Davidic line of kings, the Temple in Jerusalem, the Levitical priesthood, and the proper liturgical worship. The north had the problem of lacking all this. Thus, they setup a new line of kings, new places to worship in the cities of Bethel and Dan (complete with golden calfs), a new priesthood, and new liturgical practices. This was extremely problematic since all of these things were against God’s commands. Amos was a prophet from the southern kingdom who came to the northern kingdom to call them to turn from their sinful ways and turn back to the Lord. His message was not received well. This Sunday’s first reading recounts the response of Amaziah (a “priest of Bethel,” one of the false temple sites) to Amos. Amaziah told Amos to leave and accused him of being a “professional” prophet in the sense that he was making a living off prophesying. Amos denied this, explaining that his profession was shepherd and his role as prophet was one given to him by God. This correlates with what we’ll see in this Sunday’s gospel.
Second Reading: Ephesians 1:3-14
Reflection:
This opening of St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is a beautiful prayer of blessing. Its rich theological language points to the greatness of God and the many blessings we have as followers of Christ. We see all three persons of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) referenced here. We also are affirmed in our identity as Christians. In Christ we have been given “every spiritual blessing.” We are the chosen people of God, called “to be holy and without blemish before him.” In other words, we are to look different from the rest of the world and we are to pursue sanctity. We are also sons and daughters of God by adoption through Christ. We are, therefore, part of the family of God. All of these wonderful things are possible only through Christ. It is only by the blood of Christ that we can be adopted by God, redeemed, forgiven of our trespasses, and given the grace necessary to become saints. Christ made this all possible and the Holy Spirit brings it to fruition in our lives.
Gospel Reading: Mark 6:7-13
Reflection:
The sending out of the Apostles by Jesus in this Sunday’s gospel serves as a precursor to the mission of the Church after Pentecost. Jesus sent them out to do what He had been doing: casting out demons, healing the sick, and preaching repentance. They had the power to do these things because Jesus gave it to them. Jesus is God in the flesh. He has all power and authority over sin and evil and its various manifestations in the world. He passed this power and authority on to His Church, founded upon the Apostles. Thus, the mission of the Church is to oppose evil, offer healing through Jesus, and invite people to repent. What, then, about Jesus’ detailed instructions to the Apostles for how they were to go out? These were not arbitrary. First, the lack of provisions they had was intended to teach them to trust in God to provide. It helped them recognize that this was God’s work, not their own. Second, reminiscent of the first reading, it showed that the Apostles were not “professional” prophets trying to make money off of their preaching. Like Amos, they were doing this because of a call from God. Third, the walking stick was a symbol of authority in Jewish tradition signaling they were coming with an important message. Furthermore, to “shake the dust off your feet” in that culture was a sign of repudiation of those who rejected them and their message. This was to warn those who rejected them and evidenced that it was not the Apostles’ job to force any conversions. They were to present the message and perform the miracles but it was up to each person whether to accept it or reject it. That is true today too—we are sent out to participate in the mission of the Church to evangelize through our words and actions, whether people accept or reject it.
Application:
As Christians, we are called to act differently from the rest of the world. Through our words and actions we are to go out and share Christ with those we encounter. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, gives us everything we need to effectively witness his love and truth to others. We are called to be faithful in sharing the message of Jesus, regardless of whether others accept or reject the message. Who will you share Christ with this week?
