The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today reassure us that our restoration to full life is the plan of God as the promptings of the Spirit lead us to relationship with the Bridegroom.
The reading from the Book of the Prophet Amos describes the restoration of David’s Kingdom.
* [9:11–15] These verses are most likely an editorial supplement to Amos, added to bring the book into harmony with the positive thrust of the prophetic books in general, especially those written after the exile, when the final edition of Amos was probably completed. The editors would have seen the destruction of Samaria in 722/721 B.C. as the fulfillment of Amos’s prophecies, but in this epilogue they express the view that destruction was not the Lord’s final word for Israel. In Acts 15:15–17, James interprets this passage in a messianic sense. The fallen hut of David: the Davidic kingdom, which included what later became the divided Northern and Southern Kingdoms. All nations claimed in my name: lit., “all nations over whom my name has been pronounced.” This idiom denotes ownership. (Amos, CHAPTER 9, n.d.)
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). (Psalms, PSALM 85, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus addresses a question about fasting.
* [9:16–17] Each of these parables speaks of the unsuitability of attempting to combine the old and the new. Jesus’ teaching is not a patching up of Judaism, nor can the gospel be contained within the limits of Mosaic law. (Matthew, CHAPTER 9, n.d.)
Barbara Dilly (2018) asks how do God’s people learn to live in peace? How do they learn to live in kindness and truth? How do they learn to walk with justice? She agrees with Pope Francis that it is when they learn to care for their common home and for others, to protect all the lands of the earth and their ability to provide for the needs of all people. We certainly aren’t there yet. We who claim to follow Jesus have a lot of work to do if we want to dwell in our own land in peace and justice with all that we need restored to us. To achieve that, we should also help others to enjoy the same blessings. Food and environmental justice, it seems to me, is a good focus for that work.
Jesus tells us we can’t get on with what it means to follow him by putting new wine into old wineskins. I think that means that if we hear Jesus and follow him, are not just simply the same old people who got chosen to be special. We are a transformed people. If we follow Jesus, we see a very different relationship between ourselves and God, between ourselves and the earth, and ourselves and others. Our relationship with God is not just about God being with us when we take what we need for ourselves. When we are transformed, we find a way to be men and women with and for others. (Dilly, 2018)
Don Schwager quotes “No need to fast in the presence of the Bridegroom,” by Hilary of Poitiers (315-367 AD).
"The Pharisees and John's disciples were fasting, and the apostles were not. But Jesus answered them in a spiritual way and indicated to John's disciples that he was a bridegroom. John taught that all hope in life lay in Christ. While he was still preaching, however, his disciples could not be received by the Lord. Up until the time of John, the law and the prophets prevailed, and unless the law came to an end, none of them would subscribe to faith in the gospel. The fact that he said there was no need for his disciples to fast as long as the bridegroom is with them illustrates the joy of his presence and the sacrament of the holy food, which no one need be without while he is present, that is, bearing Christ in the light of the mind. But once he is gone, Jesus says that they will fast, for all those who do not believe that Christ has risen will not have the food of life. By faith in the resurrection, the sacrament of the heavenly bread is received. Whoever is without Christ will be forsaken, fasting from the food of life." (excerpt from the commentary ON MATTHEW 9.3) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Amos 9:11-15 comments that restoration is a beautiful word filled with hope. It means that nothing and no one is too far gone for the Lord. Even when we are damaged by life’s trials or by patterns of sin, even when our relationships are broken and we see no hope, even when we have lost our loved ones, God promises restoration. Through Jesus, he will heal our wounds, heal our relationships, and eventually reunite us with our loved ones. That is, and has always been, his plan for us.
The people who heard Amos proclaim these words never saw them come to fruition in their lifetime. Perhaps we won’t see everything we yearn to be restored happen in our lifetime either. But God doesn’t make promises he doesn’t keep. One day, in his perfect timing, he will make all things new again (Revelation 21:5). “Father, bring about your restoration in me.” (Meditation on Amos 9:11-15, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler discusses the punishment and the subsequent restoration from God described in the Book of the Prophet Amos. Punishment has the purpose to bring us around to see consequences and decide to choose the Lord again. Friar Jude notes the role of fasting as a ritual action to mourn for the death of a loved one. Friar Jude connects the new clothes of the wedding celebrating the Bridegroom with the New Wine of our relationship with Jesus.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares the translation by Rabbis Or N. Rose and Ebn D. Leader of the eighteenth-century Hasidic Rabbi Hayim Heikel of Amdur, active in Lithuania, who counselled conscious remembrance of God first thing in the morning.
When you awake in the morning
immediately remember
that the blessed Creator has acted toward you with
goodness and kindness,
for He has returned the soul to you (Berakhot 2a);
the soul that fills your whole body. . . .
Before opening your eyes,
draw the Creator to you—
likewise with your ears, mouth, and mind.
If you follow this practice,
all your deeds will be holy that day,
as it is written, “I foretell the end from the beginning”
(Isaiah 46:10). [2] (Rohr, 2022)
We are reminded that renewal of fullness in our life begins with openness to the New Wine of relationship with Jesus.
References
Amos, CHAPTER 9. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 2, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/amos/9?11
Dilly, B. (2018, July 2). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. Creighton University's Online Ministries. Retrieved July 2, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/070222.html
Matthew, CHAPTER 9. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 2, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/9?14
Meditation on Amos 9:11-15. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 2, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/07/02/429223/
Psalms, PSALM 85. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved July 2, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/85?9
Rohr, R. (2022, July 2). Judaism: Hasidic Mystics: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved July 2, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/judaism-hasidic-mystics-2022-07-02/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 2, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=jul2
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