15th Sunday of the Year, B – July 14, 2024.
Readings: Amos 7:12-15; Ps 84:9-14; Ephesians 1:3-14; Gospel – Mark 6:7-13.
Sunday Synopsis
The first reading discloses the clash between Amaziah the priest, who sugarcoats God’s word for personal gain, and prophet Amos, who speaks truth to power. The second reading points to our baptism in Christ as a presupposition for discipleship. The gospel presents us with the call to discipleship and the mandate to form a synergy in preaching the gospel. Jesus’ call to discipleship reminds us to beware of materialism, care for the sick, and act with authority over unclean spirits.
Introduction
Beloved in Christ, our reflection presents a battle between Amaziah the priest, and the prophet Amos. The struggle for the soul of prophesy in the Old Testament is resolved by Jesus who gives a proviso for true discipleship.
Background and Summary of the Readings
The first reading (Amos 7:12-15) discloses the clash between Amaziah the priest, who sugarcoats God’s word for personal gain, and prophet Amos, who speaks truth to power:
(a). Amaziah sugarcoats God’s message: Amaziah was a priest in charge of the royal sanctuary in Bethel. He was fond of sugarcoating the message of God. He talks to please the king and for money. He compromises the truth and plays to the gallery. When he heard Amos’ vision of the plummet (plumbline) which portends the destruction of the shrines and sanctuaries in the kingdom as well as the dynasty of King Jeroboam II through the sword (Amos 7:7-9), he felt that his job, means of livelihood and principal, were under attack (Amos 7:13). Because he was prophesying for filthy lucre, he accused Amos of the same thing. He ordered that Amos leave the scene. Amaziah preferred to please a man and displease God.
(b). Amos Speaks Truth to Power: On his part, Amos who comes from Tekoa in Judah (Amos 1:1) was called to prophesy in Israel, the northern kingdom. He sees three visions – of judgment against Israel where locusts eat away the spring growth (7:1-3), a shower of fire consumes the land (7:4-6), and a wall built with a plumb line. God sets a religious and ethical plumb line on the kingdom of Israel to see how they stand. Sadly, the people did not measure up because they were not upright. Amos maintains that God would destroy the high places of worship and rise violently against Jeroboam’s house – a prophesy that both prophets Amos and Hosea condemn stressing that these were improper locations for the worship of God.
Amaziah confronts Amos and orders him to leave Judah immediately and to never prophesy in Bethel again. Amos responds by validating his prophetic calling. He makes the point that he is not from the line of prophets – he contends that his calling is not a business or a means of livelihood. He insisted that God called him to prophesy to Israel while tending his flocks and dressing the sycamore tree. Since Amos preferred to please God rather than man, he continued to deliver his prophetic words to Israel amid opposition.
The second reading (Ephesians 1:3-14) points to our baptism in Christ as a presupposition for discipleship: “Before the world was made, he chose us, chose us in Christ, to be holy and spotless…to become his adopted sons” and “to make his glory praised” in the daily events of our lives.
The gospel (Mark 6:7-13) presents us with the call to discipleship and the mandate to form a synergy in preaching the gospel. Jesus gave the disciples power over unclean spirits but charged them to beware of the trappings of materialism. He encouraged them to be contended with what the mission offers. The text underlines that while the apostles set out to preach repentance, they cast out devils and anointed the sick.
Pastoral Lessons
- Speak truth to power: Our liturgy challenges pastors of souls who like the priest Amaziah have lost their voice due to wining and dining with the “the royal sanctuary of Bethel” to reassess their prophetic calling and stand their ground in talking truth to power.
- Respect the divine mandate: It also calls those who belong to the “royal sanctuary of Bethel” because they have money or wield power in the church and society to eschew the triumphalist attitude of either “buying” or threatening men of God to repent or perish.
- Embrace discipleship: The second reading which presupposes our divine adoption through baptism in Christ urges us to embrace discipleship bearing in mind that God chose us before time for his kind purposes.
- Act with Authority: Emboldened by Jesus’ “authority,” Christians are encouraged to have a thick opposition to the gospel values from parents, friends, siblings, or colleagues at the workplace even as they act with authority.
- Preach, and care for the sick: In a society where materialism and commodification of religious values hold sway, Pastors of souls are challenged to take seriously their mandate to preach repentance and salvation even as they cast out devils and care for the sick.
Summary Lines
- The first reading (Amos 7:12-15) discloses the clash between Amaziah the priest, who sugarcoats God’s word for personal gain, and prophet Amos, who speaks truth to power.
- The second reading (Ephesians 1:3-14) points to our baptism in Christ as a presupposition for discipleship.
- “Before the world was made, he chose us in Christ, to be holy and spotless…to become his adopted sons.”
- The gospel (Mark 6:7-13) presents us with the call to discipleship and the mandate to form a synergy in preaching the gospel.
- Jesus gave the disciples power over unclean spirits but charged them to beware of the trappings of materialism.
Conclusion
Our liturgy suggests that we must never give up amid opposition and persecution. Like the prophet Amos, we must stand up to those who oppose God’s plan for humanity. God’s promise to Amos that he is with him assures that we are not alone. Instead of crying foul or complaining endlessly, the liturgy urges us to rely on the Holy Spirit as we disciple others for the kingdom bearing in mind that the battle is between serving God and pleasing human beings. May our Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary intercede for us as we choose to always, please God in our thoughts, words, and deeds. Amen.
