Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

 15^th Sunday of the Year, B – July 15, 2018.

Readings: Amos 7:12-15; Ps 84:9-14; 

Ephesians 1:3-14; Gospel – Mark 6:7-13.

Theme - The Call to Discipleship: Between Serving God and Man!

Introduction

Beloved in Christ, our reflection today titled, “The Call to Discipleship: Between Serving God and Man” presents us with a battle betweenAmaziahthe priest and prophet Amos. The battle for the soul of prophesy in the Old Testament is resolved by Jesus who gives a proviso for true discipleship. To put this reflection in perspective, we shall briefly look at who the priestAmaziah and prophet Amos were andthe bone of contention between the two. This shall guide us to the gospel where Jesus gives the vivid picture of what true discipleship involves. This shall also lead us to the practical lessons required for our day to day lives as Christians.  

Background & Summary of the Readings

The first reading (Amos 7:12-15)discloses the clash betweenAmaziahthe priest and prophet Amos. We shall highlight the major points of the sacred text thus:

 (a). The Person of Amaziah& his Grouse:Amaziahwas a priest in charge of the royal sanctuary in Bethel. He was fond of sugarcoating the message of God. He talks to please the king and also for money. He compromises the truth and plays to the gallery. When he heard Amos’ vision of the plummet (plumb-line) which portends the destruction of the shrines and sanctuaries in the kingdom as well as the dynasty of king Jeroboam II through the sword (Amos 7:7-9), he felt that his job, means of livelihood and principal, were under  attack(Amos 7:13). Because he was prophesying for filthy lucre, he accused Amos of the same thing.Heordered that Amos leaves the scene. On the whole, Amaziahpreferred to please man and displease God.

(b). The Prophet Amos& his Vision:The prophet Amos hails from Tekoa, in Judah (Amos 1:1). He was, however, called to prophesy in Israel, the northern kingdom. Amos sees three visions of judgment against Israel where locusts eataway the spring growth (7:1-3), a shower of fire consumes the land (7:4-6) and a wall built with a plumb line.Apparently, God sets a religious and ethical plumb line on the kingdom of Israel to see how they stand. Sadly, the people did not measure up because they were not upright. Amos maintained that God will destroy the high places of worship and rise violently against Jeroboam’s house – a prophesy that both prophets Amos and Hosea condemn stressing that these were improper locations for the  worship of God.

As a consequence, Amaziah confronted Amos ordering him to leave Judah immediately and never prophesy in Bethel again. Amos responds that he not from a line of prophets who have ancestral legitimacy. Since it was not a business or means of livelihood for him, Amos had to validatehis prophetic calling by insisting that God called him while he was tending his flocks anddressing sycamore tree, to prophesy to Israel. He is able to continue to deliver his prophetic words to Israel.It is safe to say, Amos preferred to please God and displease man.

The second reading (Ephesians 1:3-14) validates the point made by prophet Amos that “before the world was made, he chose us, chose us in Christ, to be holy and spotless, and to live through love in his presence, determining that we should become his adopted sons.” This presupposes our baptism in Christ for unique discipleship in the world. This is a call “to make his glory praised” in the daily events of our lives.

Like the story of Amos in the first reading, the gospel reading (Mark 6:7-13) presents us with the call to discipleship and the mandate to synergize in the task of preaching the gospel. Like Amos, Christians are given power over unclean spirits but charged to beware of the trappings of materialism. They are charged to be contended with what the mission offers. What is more, the sacred text adds that while the apostles set out to preach repentance, theycasts out devils and anointed the sick.   

 

Pastoral Application & Practical Lessons

1. Our liturgy challenges pastors of souls who like the priest Amaziahhave lost their voice due to wining and dining with the “the royal sanctuary of Bethel” to reassess their prophetic calling and stand their ground in talking truth to power.

2. It also calls those who belong to the “royal sanctuary of Bethel” because they have money or wield power in the church and society to eschew the triumphalistic attitude of either “buying” or threatening men of God to repent or perish. 

3. The Jeroboams of our time who are the high and mighty in the political and traditional scene should beware of the Amaziahs who incense them with lies and sycophantic behaviour by seeking for the voice the Amoses who represent true prophets in our country. 

4. Those who say the truth should be prepared to suffer persecution like the prophet Amos but be consoled about the divine endorsement of what they are saying bearing in mind that lies do not last.

5. Since God used Amos, “a herdsman and sycamore tree dresser” by appointing him to be a prophet, Christians are reminded that God can use anyone, no matter his weaknesses, for the glory of his name.

6. Our liturgy charges that our call to follow Christ must not be taken likely because God chose us before time for his kind purposes.

7. The charge to be holy and spotless by living in love reminds us that the call to discipleship has practical dimensions that we must not take likely.

8.  Christians arecalled to remember that discipleship involves a battlebetween serving God and man which demands that we serve God through humanity but distance ourselves from any attempt to please human beings and displease God.

9. Those who preach the gospel are warned about the dangers of materialism while charged to be contended with what the mission offers.

10. In a Nigerian society where spiritual materialism and commodification of religious values holds sway, Pastors of souls are challenged to take seriously their mandate to preach repentance and salvation even as they cast out devils and care for the sick.   

 

Homiletic Points to Remember

1.The battle for the soul of prophesy in the Old Testament is resolved by Jesus who gives a proviso for true discipleship.

2. Amaziahpreferred to please man and displease God.

3. Amos preferred to please God and displease man.

4. [Our liturgy] calls us “to make his glory praised” in the daily events of our lives.

5. Like Amos, Christians are given power over unclean spirits but charged to beware of the trappings of materialism.

Conclusion

When Christians are faced with challenges such as opposition and persecution, the temptation is to give up. The story of prophet Amos motivates us to bear with those who stand against God’s plan for us. Sometimes, the opposition could be from a parent, friend, sibling or colleague in the office. God’s promise to Amos that he is with him assures that we are not alone. Instead of crying foul or complaining endlessly, our liturgy charges that we should rely on the Holy Spirit while pursuing the call to discipleship knowing fully well that we are in a battle between serving God and pleasing human beings. May our Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary intercede for us as we choose to always please God in our thoughts, words and deeds. Amen.