GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 30TH JUNE 2016
THURSDAY OF THE 13TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
1ST READING: Amos 7:10-17
PSALM: Psalm 19:8-11
GOSPEL: Matthew 9:1-8
THEME: LOYALTY
There is a saying that “he who pays the piper calls the tune”. In other words, the person who is paying someone to do something can decide how it should be done. This is fine when what is to be done is right. However, the pay is of no value if it influences one to depart from what is right.
Amaziah was a priest of the sanctuary at Bethel in the Northern Kingdom. His loyalty was to the king – Jeroboam II – who probably appointed him. His livelihood depended on that appointment. The prophet Amos, on the other hand, was no bootlicker. He did not depend on any subsidy from the royal palace. After all he was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore trees in Judah. Becoming a prophet was not a means of making money. He pursued what he was convinced to be a vocation and not a mere career and his loyalty was to God.
Interpersonal conflict between Amaziah and Amos was inevitable since their loyalties were in conflict. Feeling uncomfortable with the prophetic ministry of Amos, Amaziah said to him, “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there; but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom” (Amos 7:12-13).
Amaziah’s sense of judgement was dulled and negatively affected by where he was getting his bread. Consequently, although he was a “man of God”, he made himself a “man against God” and spoke against the prophet sent by God.
Human society, in all its facets, is structured in such a way that loyalty to another human being is necessary. There is always the need to be loyal to somebody in our family, workplace, church, country etc. However, this should never overshadow our primary loyalty to God. In every situation, God first!
Eternal Father, may the opportunities that life offers me not control my loyalty to you. Keep me always faithful to the truth even if it appears unpleasant and unfavourable to me, for in the truth lies my freedom. Amen
Fr. Andrews Obeng, SVD
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)