Introduction: The readings from Amos and Mark tell about people who receive a mission. In both cases the people with the mission are rather ordinary people: Amos is a shepherd and tree dresser, the apostles are mostly fishermen. They symbolize the ordinary people like you and I through whom God works for the salvation of the world.
Point 1: The Need for people to change their way of living. Many people stay out of the struggle for a better world, believing that only important people and the especially talented people make a difference. They should remember this shepherd and these fishermen. These messengers carry similar messages. The apostles preached the need for repentance, that is, the need for people to change their way of living.
Amos also spoke about the need to live differently, and that is why the priest was throwing him out of Bethel. The established religion of the Northern Kingdom, centered in Bethel, felt threatened by this prophet of social justice.
In the religion of Amos, God proclaims peace to his people and justice shall look down from heaven so that justice and peace shall kiss. Amaziah wanted nothing of that.
Point 2: Effective Apostles and Mission. The apostles were to take nothing with them on the journey but their companionship (two by two) and the authority they received from Jesus. Their mission was to confront the evil embodied in society and to reject what is contrary to the gospel
“The laity share in the priestly, prophetic, and royal office of Christ and therefore have their own role to play in the mission of the whole People of God in the Church and in the world. They exercise a genuine apostolate by their activity on behalf of bringing the gospel and holiness to men, and on behalf of penetrating and perfecting the temporal sphere of things through the spirit of the gospel.” Vatican II, Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity (1965) 2
Point 3: The Burden of Baggage. It’s not merely the things we acquire in our journey of life. It may be all the excess trappings of our power, privilege, position and money. It may be crusty ideology and old ideas and pet theories. As an old woman, a daily communicant, once said: “I’d rather see a sermon lived than talked.”
Conclusion: If we profess that “it is in Christ and through his blood that we have been redeemed and our sins forgiven,” then perhaps our lives could be lived a little more simply, a little less ambiguously. It might be more evident to others and ourselves that it is indeed Christ we are made for, not the trappings we carry or the things we have acquired.
With too much baggage, it is our baggage we serve, our own nests we feather. Could this be why some of our apostolic efforts in the world today seem ineffective? Could it be that we are more skilled at collecting our benefits, our comforts than shepherding the faith?
Questions That May Lead To Other Thoughts / Reflections / Discussion
- Amos was chased out of Bethel. The people wanted no part of his message. What do you do in a situation where you think an action needs to be taken that makes everyone uncomfortable?
- Amos points out to Amaziah that he was a shepherd and it wasn’t his idea to be a prophet anyway. Are education, occupation, eloquence, talent or intelligence prerequisites for a prophet? What is necessary? Could you be a prophet?
- Evangelizing means to bring the Good News to all humanity, and through its influence to transform it from within, make it new. How can you transform humanity around you in your daily life?
- Why is detachment so important to evangelization? How cluttered are your heart and mind? If the clutter limits God’s space in your life, what can you dispose of?
Another Meditation: What kind of authority and power does the Lord want us to exercise on his behalf? Jesus gave his apostles both the power and the authority to speak and to act in his name. He commanded them to do the works which he did — to cast out evil spirits, to heal, and to speak the word of God — the good news of the gospel which they received from Jesus. When Jesus spoke of power and authority he did something unheard of. He wedded power and authority with love and humility. The “world” and the “flesh” seek power for selfish gain. Jesus teaches us to use it for the good of our neighbor. Why does Jesus tell the apostles to “travel light” with little or no provision? “Poverty of spirit” frees us from greed and preoccupation with possessions and makes ample room for God’s provision. The Lord wants his disciples to be dependent on him and not on themselves. He wills to work through and in each of us for his glory. Are you ready to handle the power and authority which God wishes you to exercise on his behalf? The Lord entrusts us with his gifts and talents. Are you eager to place yourself at his service, to do whatever he bids you, and to witness his truth and saving power to whomever he sends you?
“Lord, make me a channel of your grace and healing love that others may find life and freedom in you. Free me from all other attachments that I may joyfully pursue the things of heaven. May I witness the joy of the gospel both in word and deed.”
Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two.
O Lord, send us out! Fire up our hearts! Let us take your healing love to our own neighborhood and to the all the ends of the earth!
O Holy Spirit, no food, no backpack, no money belt to give us comfort, no gaudy set of clothes. Give us this day total trust in you.
Reading I: Amos 7:12-15
Responsorial Psalm: 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14
Reading II: Ephesians 1:3-14 or Ephesians 1:3-10
Gospel: Mark 6:7-13