Striving toward full commitment

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to examine our priorities and the depth to which money and material concerns may be distracting us from our faith journey.

Examine our priorities

The Prophet Amos presents an oracle against Israel to highlight the actions of the rich that violate the Covenant with the Lord.

* [2:6] Israel: Amos’s audience would applaud his condemnation of foreign kingdoms in the foregoing seven oracles, especially of Judah. But now he adds an eighth, unexpected oracle—against Israel itself. This is the real “punch line” of this whole section, to which the preceding oracles serve mainly as introduction.

Psalm 50 declares a covenant lawsuit stating the sacrifice that God really wants.

* [Psalm 50] A covenant lawsuit stating that the sacrifice God really wants is the sacrifice of praise accompanied by genuine obedience (cf. Mi 6:1–8). It begins with a theophany and the summoning of the court (Ps 50:1–6). Then in direct address God explains what is required of the faithful (Ps 50:7–15), rebukes the hypocritical worshiper (Ps 50:16–21), and concludes with a threat and a promise (Ps 50:22–23; cf. Is 1:19–20).

Jesus addresses the commitment of would be followers in the Gospel from Matthew.

* [8:18–22] This passage between the first and second series of miracles about following Jesus is taken from Q (see Lk 9:57–62). The third of the three sayings found in the source is absent from Matthew.

George Butterfield comments that we either do not realize what sacrifice being faithful to God requires requires or we have a "but" that keeps us from acting now.

Jesus' point is simply that THE most important things in life cannot come before following him. As soon as we say, "Jesus, I will follow you but"...then we have turned away from being his disciple. As in Amos and the psalm, words are important but they must be backed up with right action.

Don Schwager quotes Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D., on following the Lord.

"'Come follow Me, says the Lord. Do you love? He has hastened on, He has flown on ahead. Look and see where. O Christian, don't you know where your Lord has gone? I ask you: Don't you wish to follow Him there? Through trials, insults,the cross, and death. Why do you hesitate? Look, the way has been shown you." (excerpt from Sermon 64,5)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 8:18-22 comments that Jesus is saying something that can be difficult to hear: following Him can be hard. He’s inviting them—and us—to follow Him more wholeheartedly even though the cost is high.

Jesus is calling you to take the next step. If that idea makes you uneasy, remember today’s psalm. It reminds us that “to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God” (Psalm 50:23). The goal that we’re working toward is to see God’s salvation, and God will bless any step forward along the “right way” that we take. Jesus is asking you to take that one small step today. What does it look like for you?

Friar Jude Winkler explains how Amos presents the actions of Israel as the completion of their evil. The decision to follow Jesus is a journey not an arrival. Friar Jude mentions Jesus use of Jewish exaggeration in the Gospel but restates that Christ has to be at our centre.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares that we can reimagine God through good theology and contemplative wisdom. He cites the book, The Soul of Money, by Lynne Twist who explains the power we’ve given our image of money and reminds us of our true longings and needs.

Each of us experiences a lifelong tug-of-war between our money interests and the calling of our soul. When we’re in the domain of soul, we act with integrity. We are thoughtful and generous, allowing, courageous, and committed. . . . We are open, vulnerable, and heartful. . . . We are trustworthy and trusting of others. . . . We feel at peace within ourselves and confident that we are an integral part of a larger, more universal experience, something greater than ourselves.

The default from not taking action today is to be witness to the separation of people and ourselves from living in a way that continues our journey toward full life in Christ.

References


(n.d.). Amos, chapter 2 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved July 2, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/amos/2

(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 50 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved July 2, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/50 

(n.d.). Matthew, chapter 8 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved July 2, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/mt/8:37

(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved July 2, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html 

(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 2, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/

(n.d.). 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily .... Retrieved July 2, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/

(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archives - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved July 2, 2018, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/