Daily Readings - Sun Jul 15 2018
Amos
12Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:13But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court.14Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:15And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.
Ephesians
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;8Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Mark
7And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;8And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:9But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.10And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.11And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.12And they went out, and preached that men should repent.13And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that 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.