Breaking the Word

13^th Week in Ord. Time, Friday – 5^th July 2024 – Amos 8,4-6.9-12; Mt 9,9-13

Discarding God’s Word

The first reading continues the prophecy of Amos, as he became increasingly conscious of the impending doom hanging over Israel because of the injustice in the land. Amos lashes at the rich waiting for various opportunities to cheat and oppress the poor. It happens in a broad day light, publicly, treating them scornfully, forgetting all sorts of justice and God’s commandments. The voiceless poor are ill-treated with no qualms of conscience and least sensitivity. The prophet demonstrates that God is aware of all the evil deeds and actions of the people. The Lord seems to be indicating that by rejecting the prophet’s word, Israel had crossed the line of no return. Because they are seeking their own profit instead of God’s prophecy, they will come to a point when God’s Word will not be available to them, and they will suffer the consequences of not having God’s Word in their lives. Amos, then, foresees the “Day of the Lord” not as a time of victory over Israel’s enemies, but rather as a time of divine judgement, terror for the unrighteous, wailing, and lamentation. We need to be open to God’s Word as the Word comes to us. If we ignore the Word of the Lord, there may come a time when we may hunger for it and not be able to find it.

13^th Week in Ord. Time, Thursday – 4^th July 2024 – Amos 7,10-17; Mt 9,1-8

Prophetic Truths

The first reading records Amos’ confrontation with the priest Amaziah in Bethel. Amaziah opposes the prophetic work of Amos, because he pronounced a judgement upon Amaziah, telling him that his family would suffer due to his opposition to God’s word and messenger. Amaziah falsely accuses Amos of treachery against the northern Israel’s king and expels him from northern capital, the holy city of Bethel. But Amos insists that he is not a prophet by trade, but one uniquely called by God with a message for northern Israel. Amos denies that he became a prophet for financial gain. He had earned his living as a shepherd in the highlands of Judah and as a sycamore dresser in the lowlands of Judah. The reading epitomizes the challenging but indispensable role of the prophet. Amos performs his duty as prophet, not because he wanted to be a prophet nor because he was trained to be a prophet. He speaks God’s word because God had called him to do so.  His responsibility is to speak out clearly the truths he sees, however unpalatable they may be. He is bound to arouse hostility against himself by those who do not want to hear what he has to say. Yet prophets are absolutely essential; we need them, even if we do not like their messages.