Thursday, July 06, 2006
Thursday 13th Week in Ordinary Time
July 6, 2006
Thursday 13th Week in Ordinary Time - Yr II
AMOS 7:10-17
Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent word to Jeroboam, king of Israel:
"Amos has conspired against you here within Israel; the country cannot
endure all his words. For this is what Amos says: Jeroboam shall die by
the sword, and Israel shall surely be exiled from its land." To Amos,
Amaziah said: "Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah!
There earn your bread by prophesying, but never again prophesy in
Bethel; for it is the king's sanctuary and a royal temple." Amos
answered Amaziah, "I was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company
of prophets; I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores. The LORD took
me from following the flock, and said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people
Israel.' Now hear the word of the LORD!" You say: prophesy not against
Israel, preach not against the house of Isaac. Now thus says the LORD:
Your wife shall be made a harlot in the city, and your sons and
daughters shall fall by the sword; Your land shall be divided by
measuring line, and you yourself shall die in an unclean land; Israel
shall be exiled far from its land.
MATTHEW 9:1-8
After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own
town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Courage, child,
your sins are forgiven." At that, some of the scribes said to
themselves, "This man is blaspheming." Jesus knew what they were
thinking, and said, "Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier,
to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that
you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive
sins"- he then said to the paralytic, "Rise, pick up your stretcher,
and go home." He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were
struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.
REFLECTION
It's not unusual for a corrupt government to cite religion to support
its corrupt policies. Nor is it unheard of that a corrupt religious
leader might be in the forefront of those defending government
corruption. This was the situation in which Amos found himself when at
God's urging, he went about Israel, condemning the social sinfulness of
king, priests, and people.
Amos's preaching was subversive. It condemned king, priests and people,
revealing to them how they were violating the obligations imposed on
them by the covenant they had entered into with God.
The priest Amaziah expelled the prophet from the Temple at Bethel, the
main site of religious worship in Israel, and ordered Amos to go back
to Judah, where, he told him, he could earn his bread by prophesying.
He was never to prophesy in Israel again.
Amos responded to Azamiah's deportation order, protesting that he was
not a professional prophet, that his one goal was to preach the word
God had told him to preach. Amos certainly had no interest at all in
supporting the political establishment.
On the day of our baptism all of us were appointed prophets. It's not
an easy role to fulfill. People don't like to being reminded of their
sinfulness, and so the prophet always arouses opposition. If, however,
we meet with opposition, we need only put our trust in God and rely,
not on our wisdom and strength, but on his. Amos can be an inspiration
for us. He was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamore trees. He was not
an educated man. Yet he fulfilled the obligation God put on him. We can
do the same in regard to the obligation he put on us on the day of our
baptism.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
- for the continued recovery of Aida.
- for the speedy recovery of Cadio.
- In Thanksgiving: Bro. Nanding
- for the speedy recovery of Angelina Ramos.
- for the personal intentions of Veronica Yap.
- for the speedy recovery of Mon Alegre's sister.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Metti Jimenez
- Wedding Anniversary: Joe & Susana Lorenzo
- for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our
prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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