The Pastoral Preaching Web Site- Homily

The Pastoral Preaching Web Site

Homily

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Amos 7:12-15; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 6:7-13

By Father Timothy P. Schehr 

Amos, who certainly was a prophet, has the distinction of giving us one of the most memorable lines from the Bible when he said, "I was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company of prophets."

A little background on the situation in the time of Amos may be of help. It was eight centuries before the birth of Jesus. The people of God were split into two separate kingdoms: Israel in the north and Judah in the south. The Temple of Solomon was, of course, in Jerusalem, the southern capital. To stop the flow of pilgrims to the Temple of Solomon, the kings in the north maintained a rival temple at Bethel, complete with idolatrous images. This temple had more to do with promoting the king's plans than with honoring God. The priest in charge of this temple, a man named Amaziah, speaks more truth than he realizes when he calls the Bethel temple "the king's sanctuary and a royal temple."

God, always working to steer people toward the path of life, sends Amos from Judah north to Bethel to confront them with the truth and warn them about the dangers of idolatry.

The first reading records the kind of reception Amos received for his message. Amaziah invites Amos to leave, presuming he is nothing more than a hired holy man from the southern kingdom. That is when Amos speaks his famous line about not being a prophet before. What he means is that his mission comes directly from God. He speaks the word of God not to support himself, as did so many false prophets, but to serve God's saving plan.

Selfless devotion to God, the kind of devotion Amos had, is precisely what Jesus demands of His Twelve Apostles when He sends them out on their first mission. He sends them two by two. They probably needed such mutual support at this early stage.

Jesus gives them power to do the sort of things He was doing among the people: preach re­pentance, free people from unclean spirits and heal them from sickness. They are clearly doing the work of God.

To make it even more clear that they are doing God's work, the apostles are permitted to take nothing for their journey but walking sticks and sandals — items that will truly serve them on their journey.

Jesus does not allow His apostles to take food, gear, money or extra garments. Such supplies might suggest they are self-reliant, and Jesus wants them to learn to rely on God and the people who respond to God's word. After all, their focus is on God and not on the things of this world.

When they enter a house, they must remain in that house until they leave the area so that people will know where to go to hear God's word.

Jesus instructs His apostles to shake the dust off their feet in testimony against people who will not welcome them or will not listen to them. This dramatic act might lead them to reconsider and eventually open their hearts to God.

(Father Schehr is a member of the faculty at the Athenaeum of Ohio in Cincinnati.)

 

 

 

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