The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate the role we are called to play as prophets inspired by the Spirit to live our Baptism, as priest, prophet, and king.
Prophets today
The reading from the Prophet Amos establishes his struggle with King Amaziah.
* [7:14] I am not a prophet: Amos reacts strongly to Amaziah’s attempt to classify him as a “prophet-for-hire” who “earns [his] bread” by giving oracles in exchange for payment (cf. 1 Sm 9:3–10; Mi 3:5). To disassociate himself from this kind of “professional” prophet, Amos rejects outright the title of nabi’ (“prophet”). By profession he is a herdsman/sheepbreeder and a dresser of sycamore trees, but God’s call has commissioned him to prophesy to Israel.1
Psalm 85 is a prayer for the restoration of God’s favour.
* [Psalm 85] A national lament reminding God of past favors and forgiveness (Ps 85:2–4) and begging for forgiveness and grace now (Ps 85:5–8). A speaker represents the people who wait humbly with open hearts (Ps 85:9–10): God will be active on their behalf (Ps 85:11–13). The situation suggests the conditions of Judea during the early postexilic period, the fifth century B.C.; the thoughts are similar to those of postexilic prophets (Hg 1:5–11; 2:6–9).2
The reading from the Letter of Paul to the Ephesians outlines the Father’s plan of Salvation and our Spiritual Blessings in Christ.
* [1:3–14] While a Pauline letter usually continues after the greeting with a prayer of thanksgiving, as in Eph 1:15–23 below, Ephesians first inserts a blessing of God for the blessings Christians have experienced, as in 2 Cor 1:3–4 and 1 Pt 1:3–12. The blessing here, akin to a Jewish berakah, is rich in images almost certainly drawn from hymns and liturgy. Many ideas here are also found in Col 1:3–23. Certain phrases are frequently repeated, such as in Christ (Eph 1:3, 10, 12) or in him (Eph 1:4, 7, 9, 11, 13) or in the beloved (Eph 1:6) and (for) the praise of (his) glory (Eph 1:6, 12, 14). Some terms like chose (Eph 1:4) and destined (Eph 1:5) reflect Old Testament theology (Dt 7:7; 9:4–6; 23:5) or Pauline themes (redemption, Eph 1:7, 14; grace, Eph 1:6, 7) or specific emphases in Colossians (forgiveness, Col 1:14). A triadic structure is discernible in Eph 1:3–14: God the Father (Eph 1:3–6, 8, 11), Christ (Eph 1:3, 5, 7–10, 12), and the Spirit (Eph 1:13–14). The spiritual blessings Christians have received through Christ (Eph 1:3) are gratefully enumerated: the call to holiness (Eph 1:4; cf. Col 1:22); the gift of divine adoption establishing a unique spiritual relationship with God the Father through Christ (Eph 1:5; cf. Gal 4:5); liberation from sin through Christ’s sacrificial death (Eph 1:7); revelation of God’s plan of salvation in Christ (Eph 1:9; cf. Eph 3:3–4; Rom 16:25); the gift of election and faith in Christ bestowed upon Jewish Christians (see note on Eph 1:12, we who first hoped in Christ); and finally, the same gift granted to Gentiles (Eph 1:13, you also). In the Christ-centered faith and existence of the Christian communities the apostle sees the predetermined plan of God to bring all creation under the final rule of Christ (Eph 1:4–5, 9–10) being made known (Eph 1:9) and carried through, to God’s glory (Eph 1:6, 12, 14).3
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus declares the Mission of the Twelve.
* [6:7–13] The preparation for the mission of the Twelve is seen in the call (1) of the first disciples to be fishers of men (Mk 1:16–20), (2) then of the Twelve set apart to be with Jesus and to receive authority to preach and expel demons (Mk 3:13–19). Now they are given the specific mission to exercise that authority in word and power as representatives of Jesus during the time of their formation.4
Cindy Murphy McMahon comments that when we work together with a team to accomplish an improvement in our community, we are saying yes to a call.
I think the Gospel acclamation tucked into today’s readings, also from Ephesians, holds a key for us as Christians. It prays that we “may know what is the hope that belongs to our call.” The call we receive each day, and at every turn, is not to merely accomplish a to-do list. When we begin our day by putting that list, those obligations, in God’s hands, we invite God to reveal the hope that belongs to that call. We are part of something greater that God is doing in our world and that gives us hope. We pray today that we WILL know the hope that is always available to us throughout our lives, the hope that guides us and sustains us, and enlightens the eyes of our hearts.5
Don Schwager quotes “Jesus gives them power to heal and cast out evil spirits,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"The grace bestowed upon the holy apostles is worthy of all admiration. But the bountifulness of the Giver surpasses all praise and admiration. He gives them, as I said, his own glory. They receive authority over the evil spirits. They reduce to nothing the pride of the devil that was so highly exalted and arrogant. They render ineffectual the demon's wickedness. By the might and efficacy of the Holy Spirit, burning them as if they were on fire, they make the devil come forth with groans and weeping from those whom he had possessed… "He glorified his disciples, therefore, by giving them authority and power over the evil spirits and over sicknesses. Did he honor them without reason and make them famous without any logical cause? How can this be true? It was necessary, most necessary, that they should be able to work miracles, having been publicly appointed ministers of sacred proclamations. By means of their works, they then could convince men that they were the ministers of God and mediators of all beneath the heaven. The apostles then could invite them all to reconciliation and justification by faith and point out the way of salvation and of life that is this justification." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 47)6
The Word Among Us Meditation on Amos 7:12-15 comments that Amos didn’t have competing loyalties. God had given Amos his message, and God expected him to deliver it. Fast-forward to today’s Gospel reading, where Jesus sends out the Twelve to preach and to heal. They certainly weren’t in it for the money or to win Herod’s approval. God had called them, and that was enough. So when they returned to Jesus after their journeys, they were excited, not because they had made any money, but because they had seen the power of Jesus’ word.
By virtue of your baptism, you too are called by God to be a prophet. That simply means that you are called to spread your faith to the best of your ability (Lumen Gentium, 17). You do this by sharing what God has done in your life, by caring for the needy, and by following Church teachings even when it’s inconvenient or difficult. It won’t make you rich. It might not make you popular. But there’s nothing like seeing God work through something you say or do. God is still speaking to his people. And he’s calling you to help them hear his voice. “Lord, help me hear and speak your word!”7
Friar Jude Winkler fleshes out the poverty of Amos as a dresser of sycamores and a prophet of social justice. The dove is a sign of love, as in the Song of Songs, that we are invited to share between the Father and Son. Friar Jude reminds us that some may not have received the gift of faith and some may have rejected it. This we leave in God’s hands.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that naked, undefended, and nondual presence has the best chance of encountering the Real Presence.
Prayer is indeed the way to make contact with God/Ultimate Reality, but it is not an attempt to change God’s mind about us or about events. It is primarily about changing our mind so that things like infinity, mystery, and forgiveness can resound within us. A small mind cannot see Great Things because the two are on two different frequencies or channels, as it were. The Big Mind can know big things, but we must change channels. Like will know like.8
Our mission, as prophet, is guided by the promptings of the Spirit to reach out with humility, compassion, and love.
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