Thursday, July 9, 2015

Sunday Gospel Reflection, July 12, 2015: So that we might exist for the praise of his glory...

What does it mean to be sent forth?

In Sunday’s first reading, the prophet Amos – a simple shepherd and a dresser of sycamores – is sent forth as a foreigner to preach God’s message regarding the coming demise of the northern kingdom.  Naturally, no one wants to listen.  But Amos understands that he has been called by God, who said, Go, prophesy to my people Israel; Amos is thus following through on a compulsion of God from within and will hold fast to his message.  Like the author of Psalm 85, Amos must trust in God, trust in the relationship God offers him, trust in the love of God itself as his motor and motivation. 

Jesus likewise sends his disciples forth in Mark’s Gospel, giving them very specific instructions on how to reach others with his message, and how to be sure they themselves don’t lose sight of the fact that the message holds for them, as well.  Like Amos, the disciples are simple, working class men, not professional preachers; they take nothing for the journey but a walking stick.  But they know and trust – as should we – that redemption is at work in them; they simply need to see God’s grace at work and proclaim it.  Because, as Paul reminds the Ephesians, God destined all for redemption; our role is to respond positively to what God is doing in us, in effect, to say yes… and then to tell the world.  We exist for the praise of his glory!

We might not all have degrees in Scripture, but if we have faith, if we believe that redemption is at work in us, we too have the capacity to proclaim the Good News, and that capacity will grow each and every time we act on it. Redemption is not a one-time thing; it is always at work in us, always ongoing.  Our proclamation of the Good News is meant to show others that redemption is at work in them as well. Ite, missa est:  we are sent, thanks be to God, at the end of Mass, to do just that. 

This post is based on Fr. Pat's Scripture class.
Image source:  Wordle

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