Daily Readings - Sun Jul 11 2021

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.'

Ephesians

Chapter 1

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.

Mark

Chapter 6

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 powerful reminders of God’s call, our response to that call, and the profound blessings we receive as children of God. The first reading from Amos shows us a prophet who, despite being told to leave and stop speaking God’s word, remains steadfast in his mission. Amos humbly insists that he is not a professional prophet but simply a man called by God to deliver a message. This exchange highlights the tension between human authority and divine authority, as well as the courage required to obey God’s will even in the face of opposition. The second reading from Ephesians shifts our focus to the blessings we have received in Christ. Paul reminds us that before the world was even created, God chose us to be holy and blameless in His sight. This passage is a beautiful expression of God’s eternal plan of love and adoption, through which we are made sons and daughters of God. It emphasizes that our lives are not random or without purpose; rather, they are part of a grand design rooted in God’s grace and wisdom. This truth should fill us with gratitude and hope, knowing that we are loved and destined for greatness in Christ. In the Gospel, Mark recounts how Jesus sent out the Twelve Apostles two by two, giving them authority to preach, heal, and cast out demons. Jesus’ instructions to travel lightly, without extra provisions, teach us about trust in God’s providence. The Apostles’ mission was not about self-reliance but about reliance on God and the hospitality of others. This reminds us that our own mission as disciples is not about our own strength or resources but about surrendering to God’s plan and trusting in His grace. Like Amos and the Apostles, we are called to live with humility, courage, and trust, knowing that God equips us for whatever He asks of us. Let us embrace our calling, live simply, and share the Good News with joy and perseverance.