Daily Catholic Mass Readings for July 15, 2018
First Reading: Amos 7.12-15
12And Amaziah said to Amos, "O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there,13but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom."14Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, "I was no prophet, nor a prophet's son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs.15But the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'
Psalm 85
1LORD, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.2You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. Selah3You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger.4Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us!5Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations?6Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?7Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.8Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly.9Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.10Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.11Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky.12Yes, the LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.13Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.
Second Reading: Ephesians 1.3-14
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love5he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,6to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,8which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight9making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ10as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Gospel: Mark 6.7-13
7And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.8He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff--no bread, no bag, no money in their belts--9but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.10And he said to them, "Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there.11And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them."12So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.13And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter three distinct yet interconnected themes that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and our mission in the world. The first reading from Amos recounts the prophet's courage in the face of opposition. Amos, a humble herdsman, is called by God to deliver a challenging message to the people of Israel. Despite the priest Amaziah's attempt to silence him, Amos remains steadfast, trusting in the divine call that surpasses human authority. This passage reminds us that our faith often requires us to stand firm against worldly pressures, just as Amos did.
The second reading from Ephesians shifts our focus to the richness of God's grace and the eternal plan He has for us. Paul praises God for the spiritual blessings bestowed upon us in Christ, emphasizing our adoption as His children and the redemption won through the blood of Jesus. This passage is a beautiful expression of the depth of God's love and the mystery of His will, which is fulfilled in Christ. It invites us to live with gratitude and awareness of the divine plan unfolding in our lives.
The Gospel from Mark complements these themes as Jesus sends out the Twelve Apostles with a simple yet powerful mission. He instructs them to travel lightly, relying on God's providence rather than material comforts. Their task is to preach repentance, heal the sick, and cast out demons. This mission is not without challenges, as they are to shake the dust from their feet if they are not received. The success of their mission is not measured by their own efforts but by their trust in God's power working through them.
These readings call us to embrace a life of faith, simplicity, and boldness. Like Amos, we must be willing to listen to God's voice and act with courage, even when it means going against the current. Like the Ephesians, we should live in awe of God's grace and the eternal plan He has for us. And like the Apostles, we are called to step out in faith, trusting that God will provide what we need to fulfill our mission. May we, too, be instruments of God's love and healing in the world, living each day with the confidence that we are part of something much greater than ourselves.