Amos 7:12-15
Amaziah, priest of Bethel, said to Amos,
"Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah!
There earn your bread by prophesying,
but never again prophesy in Bethel;
for it is the king's sanctuary and a royal temple."
Amos answered Amaziah, "I was no prophet,
nor have I belonged to a company of prophets;
I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores.
The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me,
Go, prophesy to my people Israel."
Gospel
Mark 6:7-13
Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two
and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey
but a walking stick—
no food, no sack, no money in their belts.
They were, however, to wear sandals
but not a second tunic.
He said to them,
"Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave.
Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,
leave there and shake the dust off your feet
in testimony against them."
So they went off and preached repentance.
The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them
Each Sunday since we have started this study I have found that there are amazing similarities between the first reading and the gospel. This similarity that is most obvious for Sunday number 15 seems to be the Lord's command to "go". The important thing for them to remember isn't where the Lord is sending them or what they are going to say but that the Lord is commanding them to go and they must. Jesus says that we aren't necessarily going to be effective always, so when we aren't to shake the dust off, keep going, and like Paul preaches do not be afraid of what you are to say. This reminds me of Samuel telling Saul sacrifice is not what the Lord desired, He wants obedience. That's at least what I think of.
ReplyDeleteI really like that the theme of prophesy is continued from last week. And in both of this week's readings we see again that it's not about something we do. The apostles don't get to take anything cool with them and poor Amos never wanted to be a prophet. In each case, that which empowers them to be prophets is totally outside themselves. Indeed, it reminds me of St. Paul telling the Corinthians that "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves" (2 Cor 4:7).
ReplyDeleteNick, I like the fact that you bring up obedience. It's not explicitly mentioned in either reading, but both Amos and the apostles had choices: they could have refused to go. They could have said that they preferred dressing sycamores and carrying second tunics. But instead they follow the Lord's command.
Any thoughts on the conflict between Amaziah the priest and Amos the prophet? I mean, we know Amos is the good guy and Amaziah is out of line, but can we draw larger conclusions? I mean, I probably won't be strolling down to bishop Wuerl's office any time soon and denouncing him. But didn't Amos probably think the same thing about Amaziah?
(For the record, his Excellency Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, is a great guy and not in need of denouncing.)