Daily Readings - Sun Jul 11 2021
Amos
12Then Amaziah said to Amos, "Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there.13Don't prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king's sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom."14Amos answered Amaziah, "I was neither a prophet nor a prophet's son, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees.15But the LORD took me from tending the flock and said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'
Ephesians
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love5he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will--6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.9And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
Mark
7Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.8These were his instructions: "Take nothing for the journey except a staff--no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.9Wear sandals but not an extra tunic.10Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town.11And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them."12They went out and preached that people should repent.13They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil 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.