The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to ponder the events of our journey in which the path presented by the Spirit was counter intuitive and life giving.
In the reading from the Prophet Amos, the Prophecy of Amos challenges 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.(Amos, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, 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 | USCCB, n.d.)
The reading from the Letter to the Ephesians proclaims Spiritual Blessings in Christ through the Father’s Plan of Salvation.
* [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). (Ephesians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus outlines 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.
* [6:8–9] In Mark the use of a walking stick (Mk 6:8) and sandals (Mk 6:9) is permitted, but not in Mt 10:10 nor in Lk 10:4. Mark does not mention any prohibition to visit pagan territory and to enter Samaritan towns. These differences indicate a certain adaptation to conditions in and outside of Palestine and suggest in Mark’s account a later activity in the church. For the rest, Jesus required of his apostles a total dependence on God for food and shelter; cf. Mk 6:35–44; 8:1–9.
* [6:10–11] Remaining in the same house as a guest (Mk 6:10) rather than moving to another offering greater comfort avoided any impression of seeking advantage for oneself and prevented dishonor to one’s host. Shaking the dust off one’s feet served as testimony against those who rejected the call to repentance.
* [6:13] Anointed with oil…cured them: a common medicinal remedy, but seen here as a vehicle of divine power for healing. (Mark, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)
Mike Cherney comments that unfortunately, too often the American work ethic makes a connection between material success and being part of the elect. What we read in today’s scripture suggests that God may see things otherwise.
My prayer today considers humbly responding to God’s call.
Dear Lord,
The path of the American Dream may not be the path of a Divine Call.
Responding to Your call requires courage and gives no preferential option for the rich.
It entails trust that my existence is more than a random series of events.
It asks me to recognize the many natures of what I can call gifts.
I often call myself “lucky”, but I quickly realize the better word is “blessed”.
I ask Your help Heavenly Father trusting in You as I discern my path. (Cherney, 2024)
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) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 6:7-13 comments on the kind of faith we all need when God calls us to do something we feel unqualified or unworthy to carry out:
Faith that Jesus is truly calling us and “sending us out” in some way. That kind of faith requires you to trust that he has some kind of mission just for you and that through prayer or in Adoration, you will hear what he has in mind.
Faith that the Lord will equip us to do this work. You may see only what you lack, but the Lord sees all your gifts, some of which you might not even be aware of. He has confidence in your abilities, and he might even send you new gifts—as well as other believers—to help you.
Faith that our efforts will bear fruit. You might not see such fruit immediately, and perhaps you will never see it in your lifetime. But you can trust that the Lord had a purpose for you in mind and that if you are faithful to him, he will be faithful to you.
Where is God sending you today? It might not require you to “go” very far—it could very well be to your parish, neighborhood, or workplace. And unlike the apostles, you can bring more than a walking stick with you! What you do need is a heaping amount of faith—and the Lord will give it to you if you ask for it!
“Lord, fill me with faith, and then send me out to join you in your saving work!” (Meditation on Mark 6:7-13, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler shares the background to the challenge Amos, the dresser of sycamore trees, posed to the king Amaziah by prophecy at Bethel. The different ecclesiology and theology of Ephesians suggests it was a circular letter written in the name of Paul that proclaims the price Jesus paid for our sins and Christ as the head of all through the Holy Spirit. Friar Jude notes how God’s reign dawns through the word and deeds of the disciples who depend on Providence as they spread Jesus' message.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, connects lessons from the Gospels and the Twelve Steps as life-changing and healing messages that we can all benefit from.
Let me sum up, then. These are the foundational ways that I believe Jesus and the Twelve Steps of AA are saying the same thing but with different vocabulary:
We suffer to get well.
We surrender to win.
We die to live.
We give it away to keep it.
This counterintuitive wisdom will forever be resisted, denied, and avoided, until it’s forced upon us by some reality over which we are powerless—and, if we’re honest, we are all powerless in the presence of full Reality.
We are all spiritually powerless, not just those who are physically addicted to a substance. Alcoholics simply have their powerlessness visible for all to see. The rest of us disguise it in different ways, and overcompensate for our more hidden and subtle addictions and attachments. (Rohr, n.d.)
We examine our journey and express gratitude for the life events in which we experienced the Love of God through the guidance of the Spirit and build on this grace as we continue to respond to His Mission for our lives.
References
Amos, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 14, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/amos/7?12
Cherney, M. (2024, July 14). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved July 14, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/071424.html
Ephesians, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 14, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/1?3
Mark, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 14, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/6?7
Psalms, PSALM 85 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved July 14, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/85?9
Meditation on Mark 6:7-13. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved July 14, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/07/14/1022217/
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. A Counterintuitive Wisdom. Retrieved July 14, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-counterintuitive-wisdom/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Gave Them Authority over Sickness and Unclean Spirits. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved July 14, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jul14
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