13th Week in Ord. Time, Tuesday – 2nd July 2024 – Amos 3,1-8; 4,11-12; Mt 8, 23-27
Neglect of Privileged Status
In the first reading, Amos continues his severe warnings to the people of Israel. He condemns them for not paying attention to the marvelous deeds God has done for the chosen people. He begins by recalling how God has chosen and blessed the nation. Over all these years God had shown his people a love which he had not given to any other people: “You only have I known of all the families of the earth…” Because of the abundance of God’s love and favours showered on them, their wrongdoings are considered all the more serious. They have taken advantage of their privileged position as a right and did not respond in love and service. Amos, then, declares that God has warned the chosen people to be faithful to the covenant that God established with them. Israel is shockingly reminded of the long-forgotten responsibilities her privileges entailed. Since they have not heeded the warnings, the Kingdom of Israel will fall within a generation and all the people will be exiled. God is allowing this to happen, not because God is spiteful, but because the Israelites have refused to listen to God’s word due to their stubbornness of heart.
