(Audio recorded live, 10 July 2021)

Readings:

Am. 7:12-15; Ps. 85; Eph. 1:3-14; Mk. 6:7-13

Last week we heard Jesus explain that a prophet is not without honor except in his own native place, and we see a similar situation for the prophet Amos, with a twist. Amos was a native of Judah, which was part of the Southern Kingdom of Israel. At the time, the Kingdom of Israel was divided into two halves, North and South. Judah, which was in the south, maintained a lot of influence over both territories, since it was where the Jerusalem Temple was located, and the Israelites would all have to journey there for the major feast days, such as Passover. Naturally, there arose kings from the north who rebelled against Jerusalem, opting to set up their own shrines. And it was against these false shrines that Amos, the prophet of judgment, arose.

As we heard in today’s reading, Amos was not from a school of prophets, so he had no formal training in the art of prophecy. Rather, he was a shepherd and tree trimmer, a man of humble means, but with a powerful message. Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, one of the false worship sites, seeks to expel Amos from the land. But, the humble origins of Amos testify that he is a more credible witness to the Spirit of the Lord speaking through him than those who set up their own altars. In other words, God chooses who he wills to deliver his message, even those we would least expect.

St. Paul speaks to us of the abundant blessings that come to us through Christ. It is through Christ that we have become adopted children of the Father; it is through Christ that we have come to know the mystery of our redemption; and it is Christ who chose us to accomplish the will of the Father. In other words, we are all here today because God desires us to be here, just as God plucked Amos out of the fields, just as Jesus called his disciples from their former ways of life. That is why I like to say, when we are gathered here, it is exactly where God wants us to be.

We may apply similar thinking to our own lives. I am a priest because God desires it for me; many are married because God desires it for them; many become missionaries because God desires it. These are good and noble vocations, ways for us to respond to God’s call. Even when the going gets tough, God gives us the grace to overcome obstacles and continue to move forward in faith. But, how are we to move forward?

Why did Jesus send his disciples out with the bare minimum? Was he setting them up for failure, or was he teaching them, by packing light, to rely all the more on God and one another? He sent them out two by two so that they would be able to strengthen one another; he sent them empty handed because he knew that their proclamation of the Gospel would bring them everything they needed to accomplish the work for which they were sent. The lesson teaches us that the only tool any of us need is the Gospel, and if I were to become too dependent upon something else, like my shoes, or my cell phone, or my wealth, or my ego, I would be setting myself up for failure.

God provides everything we need. So, what about our own reliance on the Gospel? The fact that we are all here today says something about our reliance on the Gospel. But, what about during the week? Do we carry the Gospel message with us throughout the week? Do we try to apply it daily? Today’s Gospel is a challenge for us. We might ask: What can I go without this week so that I can rely more on the Gospel? It does not have to be Lent to give something up. I gave up caffeine back in March and I have never felt better. Sometimes going without is the best answer to becoming more reliant on God.

So, as we celebrate the Eucharist today, may our hearts be opened to God’s will for each of us that we may carry out his will each day. And may Christ, who has called each of us by name, bless the good that we do in his name, that we may always give glory to God. God provides everything we need, if only we humble ourselves a little, and he will bless us in abundance.