2015/07/12 — 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here's a bit of background about Amos, who gives us today's first reading. King Solomon died in about 931 B.C. Then, in 928, the northern tribes of the kingdom broke away and formed the Kingdom of Israel, while the remaining tribes were the Kingdom of Judah. As today's reading indicates, Amos was from the Kingdom of Judah, but he was sent by God to preach in the Kingdom of Israel. He proclaimed that worship was useless without justice and concern for the poor. His career was around the year 750 B.C. He was the first prophet to write his prophecies in a book. (Elijah and Elisha were about a hundred years before Amos, but they did not write separate books: they are written about in the historical books.)

The first reading — Amos 7:12-15 — tells of the reaction of the priest of Bethel to Amos' message denouncing the wrongs of Israel. He accuses Amos of being a "professional prophet." There were groups of self-appointed prophets who made a living by telling people what they wanted to hear. Amos replies that he is nothing of the sort. He's not in it to make money. The Lord called him and sent him to Bethel.

Prophets often warn of impending punishment, but it is always conditional. God is calling people to repentance, to live as they should, to return to him. The warning of punishment if they do not heed the message is an incentive to do what is right.

This is one more instance of the call of a prophet, after the others we have heard in the past few weeks. It is not as detailed as those of Jeremiah, Isaiah, or John the Baptist, but it is very clear that being a prophet is not a matter of family business, or self-selection. God can choose anyone, from any condition of life.


The responsorial psalm — Ps 85:9-14 — invites us to reflect that God is calling us to the peace that will come when we heed his call to justice.


The gospel — Mark 6:7-13 — tells of the mission of the Twelve. They are to "travel light" and depend on the hospitality of those they go to. Concern for possessions and obtaining different housing would distract them from their mission. The Twelve are doing what Jesus has been doing — calling people to repentance, driving out demons, and healing the sick.

There is always the possibility of being rejected, of finding the message rejected. At some point the only response is to let go and move on. They can't force people to accept God's call, and they shouldn't waste time and effort when they could take their mission to others.


The second reading — Ephesians 1:3-14 — is the first of a series of five selection that will be proclaimed on this and the next four Sundays. We have been chosen by God from all eternity. The prophets and apostles are chosen to deliver God's message, and we all have some share in that mission. But that prophetic mission is instrumental. The basic purpose is to make people aware of their being chosen by God for life in him. Over and over, Paul says, "in Christ," and "in him." It is by means of our incorporation in Christ — through baptism — that we share in God's blessings of adoption, redemption, and forgiveness. Three times, Paul says that these are given so we can praise God's glory — our ultimate purpose. God gives these blessings because he sees us in Christ. When he looks at Christ, he sees us in him. This is God's eternal plan.


God's love is not general and impersonal. It is specific to each one of us, and if it calls all to holiness and salvation. it calls each of us in a specific way, in specific circumstances, in a specific life, to praise God's glory.

The first thing the gospel says about the sending of the Twelve is that Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits. I don't think this means that we should all be performing formal exorcisms, but it might be good to remind ourselves that such spirits exist. Our temptations are not simply self-made. While we have our faults and weaknesses, we are not fighting just against ourselves when we strive to live as God calls us. This is why we need the "authority" of God's power and grace at work in us.

We have our calling to participate in the spreading of the kingdom of God, which we do above all by holy lives. While remaining faithful, we realize that it is not within our power to force others to accept the good news of salvation, but we shouldn't become discouraged. Above all, we should rejoice in our eternal call to redemption in Christ because of God's eternal love for us. This is, to borrow Pope Francis' phrase, the joy of the gospel.