As we inch closer and closer to September my spidey senses tell me that its time to get planning and organizing for the upcoming months, the start of religious ed, confirmation preparation, the rite of Christian initiation, fundraisers, fall suppers, 50th anniversary celebrations and the like. However, I am fortunate to have a priest cover a weekend for me (the newly ordained Fr. Owen Burns) which opens up some dedicated down-time. With the things brewing on September's horizon I'm tempted to stay in the trenches but I've decided I will enjoy the time of respite that has been given - thank you God! - and thank you Fr. Owen! and visit with friends and family - because that is what summer's rest is about. And then I'll return to the saddle refreshed and renewed to 'go for it'. Now is the time to do it - because like it or not - we're over the hump and cascading toward September! :)
Monday, July 23, 2012
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Bearing Witness Amid Hostility
15th Sunday in OrdinaryTime – Year B
July 15, 2012
Read Amos 7:12-15.
Here we see a showdown
between the king’s court and Amos the prophet of God.
Amos’
words were a stern warning to the king and his court.
-
Punishment - Banished into
exile.
Amos
was from the southern part of the kingdom–conquered by the north.
God
tells him to go to the North and tell them to mend their ways - or else.
Amos
arrives after a tiresome, dangerous journey to deliver God’s message– the unlikely shepherd-prophet from the south squares off against the king’s
court.
As he gazes upon his audience, what does he see? Looks
of indifference, boredom, many more with cold contempt –sneers - smiles that
hide the true thoughts of the heart...and what does he hear? a few snickers some snide,
stage whispers – mocking remarks....a palpable atmosphere of disrespect.
How
many more audiences like this would the Apostles face?
Today’s
Gospel they receive their mandate from Jesus. It is demanding. Read Mark 6:7-13. Nothing but trust in
the Savior and the authority given them over unclean spirits and to heal the
sick (which might be the same thing).
They were to be without means so as to trust in God. And to lean on the hospitality of those
they met. They preached
repentance. Preached a message of
warning, of invitation, of sin and redemption through the name of Jesus. If they were not welcomed they were to
shake the dust off their feet and move on to the next place.
How
will their journey go?
Some
will welcome the 12 apostles, as do today.
Demons
and illness will be dispelled.
These
who welcome them echo the words of the psalmist:
I will hear what God proclaims – the Lord – for he
proclaims peace
his salvation is near to those who fear him
As
Saint Paul points out in today’s reading “In him we were also chosen...we who
first hoped in Christ” and we have been “sealed with the (...) holy Spirit”
which buoys us up because it is God’s gift to us – an inheritance that is ours
through baptism.
What
is it then that stymies us, that makes us give up so quickly, in sharing the
message with others? - In giving ourselves more completely to the work of
evangelization? In telling others
of Christ...In asking pardon for our sins...
Most
believers do not have to bear the burden having no extra tunic, no food, no
sack, no money in your belts - rather our share of food is taken care of, there
is some money in our belts, and sacks of potatoes or bird seed even (in our
basements). But our task is to
evangelize. After all, as St. Paul
points out – we have been redeemed by His blood, we have the forgiveness of our
sins, and grace that he has lavished upon us. We are to welcome this grace asking God to help us to
receive the grace we need. While
some are called to be missionaries and some to be priests and full time
prophets, most are called to home ministry. Building up their families, being beacons of forgiveness and
light, people who seek ways to speak about God and opportunities to pray alone
and with others. We have our own
hostile crowds to face, but we are to give it our best shot...and by times, we
will have to shake the dust off our feet and move on to the next situation
remembering that the battle has been won by Christ and that we don’t receive
the big reward until the last day.
These
words were written in an air-conditioned room and delivered in a sweltering,
heat-wave-Saturday-night parish. O
well, it could be worse. We could
be standing in Amos’ shoes, or the apostles, as they give their last will and
testimony to their faith in Christ.
Peter and Paul gave the ultimate witness to their faith in God and love
for the Church. Peter was
crucified on a Roman hillside and Paul executed by the sword in Emperor Nero’s circus. I’d take a sweltering church over
execution any day.
Brothers
and sisters, let us pray for those situations and individuals who God has
called us to witness to, that his light shine on us and give us understanding
and patience. And let us too,
overcooked though we may be, cry out with the psalmist:
I will hear what God proclaims – the Lord – for he
proclaims peace
his salvation is near to those who fear him
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