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Commentary

Sunday, July 15, 2018, Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

We Are Blessed and in Good Company

First Reading Commentary: Amos 7:12-15

“Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me.” “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” These Beatitudes were given to us by Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5:11-12

Amos was one of the prophets that Jesus was talking about. He was spreading the LORD’s Word in Bethel but Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, persecuted Amos and reported to Jeroboam, the king of Israel, that Amos was conspiring against the king. Amaziah told Amos to leave Bethel but Amos stood his ground saying that he was not a professional prophet, meaning that he was not a false prophet looking for personal gain, but that he had been sent by the LORD to prophesy to the people of Israel. Eventually, Amaziah would kill Amos.

Anyone who answers their baptismal call to evangelize is vulnerable to persecution. Why? Because when they do so in sincere faith, they speak truth. Even Jesus was persecuted by His own people for telling the truth when He declared His divinity in Nazareth as we heard in last week’s gospel. Mark 6:1-6 So, it only stands to reason that if Jesus can be persecuted for speaking the truth, we surely will be persecuted.

The devil works hard to close the minds and harden the hearts of those who are weak in faith. Even people who declare themselves, to be devout Christians do not want to be bothered by someone who is attempting to share the Word of the Lord.

In today’s society, religion has become a taboo subject of conversation unless the person that you are talking to is on your level and shares your belief. And, as we also learned in last Sunday’s gospel, it is the people who are closest to you who will probably be the most difficult people to share your faith with or to talk to.

The example of Amos standing his ground should give us inspiration and serve as an example that we are in very good company. What Amos experienced should remind us of the Beatitudes which should give us the strength to stand up to whatever persecution others may give us for testifying to our faith.

We cannot be responsible for the actions of others but we are responsible for our own actions and if we fail to share the Word because of fear; we are failing our baptismal calling. Remember Amos and all of the other prophets. Remember the martyrs. Remember the promise made by Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:3-12 and pray to the Spirit for fortitude and strength. Then, keep on sharing.

Being Blessed Is Our Destiny

Second Reading Commentary: Ephesians 1:3-14

Paul continues the message that we are blessed in the opening of his letter to the Ephesians. He tells us that we are blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.

The key word in that statement is “spiritual.” In an indirect way, Paul is telling us once again that we have to step out of the comfort zone of our humanity in our relationship with God. Our life on earth and everything physical are gifts from God but they are only temporary and of no value in God’s ultimate plan for us. That plan is for us to be with Him in heaven.

Paul tells us that it was God’s plan before the foundation of the world that we, be without blemish before Him. But just as our plans in this life don’t always work out the way that we want them to, God’s plan needed a back-up. Not because God needed a back-up plan because of His imperfection. God is All-Perfect. We are the problem. We sin and we are with blemish because of sin.

So, God, the Father, sent God, the Son, to sacrifice Himself to this life and defeat death so that our blemishes could be removed. This is why Paul says that we were adopted; to God through Jesus Christ in accord with the favor of His will. It is because of God’s love for us that we are redeemed and that our transgressions are forgiven by the blood of Christ.

Paul says that in all wisdom and insight, God has revealed the mystery of His will which is; that all things in heaven and on earth be summed up in Christ. Simply put, Jesus Christ is Lord! We are not in control and it is futile for us to want to be in control. God who created all things is in control and the Son is King over all.

Finally, Paul tells us that we are chosen by God so that we might exist for the praise of His glory. Throughout the Book of Revelation, we see the angels and all of those who are in heaven worshipping God with praise.

Imagine a life where nothing ever goes wrong. A life where there are no hardships of any kind. A life where there is no sickness or pain. A life where there is no conflict, war or hatred. A life where there is only joy, peace and happiness. A life where there is no work. A life where all we have to do is be happy and give praise to our Creator.

This is our destiny and according to Paul, we have already received the first installment of inheritance toward redemption by being sealed with the Holy Spirit. The only thing that we have to for the Spirit’s seal to work is to believe. In other words, accept and practice the Spirit’s gift of faith.

The Sending of the Twelve

Gospel Commentary: Mark 6: 7-13

Matthew, Mark and Luke all account for the sending of the Twelve. Today, we hear Mark’s gospel. See Matthew 10:5-15 and Luke 9:1-5 for Matthew and Luke’s accounts.

In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus told the disciples to proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. In other words, the time for the Kingdom has come. In faith, we know that when Christ defeated death on the cross, He also opened up the gates of the Kingdom for us all. Heaven awaits us and Jesus not only waits for us to join Him, He also shows us the way to get there. The path is in His Light and we follow that path with our faith and by obeying His commandments.

This is one of several events that require us to read more than one gospel to get the full story of what happened. When we read all three gospels, we find that Jesus instructed the disciples to cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers and drive out demons. In effect, Jesus has empowered the disciples with all of His authority, with the exception of passing judgment. Any of the authority which they used, they did so in the name of Jesus.

Jesus instructed the disciples to take nothing with them—no food, no sack, no money and no second tunic. But Jesus did instruct them to wear sandals. Matthew tells us that Jesus said, “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” Jesus could have said, “You do not need anything to share My Word and My Word is not for sale.” Anyone who preaches for the sole purpose of making money is not following the instructions of this gospel but they should be if they call themselves spreading the Word of Jesus. Such preachers who minister for personal gain of any kind are false prophets.

Jesus did not want the disciples to take anything with them because He did not want them to be distracted by material wealth or possessions. That distraction could tempt them and cause them to loose sight of their mission and could easily give the wrong impression to those being evangelized. Besides, Jesus lived a very humble life and Jesus wanted the disciples to be a reflection of Him.

Consider this: Are preachers who live a lavish lifestyle depending on their flock to take care of their every need or desire living the humble life that Christ did and expects of those who represent Him as preachers of His Word? I think not.

Christ did not want His disciples to live a life of luxury because all of the world’s wealth put together cannot begin to compare to the true and eternal wealth of heaven. And, again, Christ did not want the disciples to be distracted by material wealth.

This is also true for us. When we evangelize, we need to keep our minds and hearts focused on the Word and tell Satan to get behind us with every distraction that he throws in front of us and believe me; he will throw everything that he possibly can at us. Sharing the Word of God is the last thing that Satan wants us to do.

The disciples were instructed to find a worthy house in whatever town they entered and to stay in that house until they left that town. They were also instructed to offer peace to whatever household they entered. Matthew tells us that Jesus said, “If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you.” Matthew 10:13 Jesus was telling the disciples that some households would welcome them and some would not and He was telling them to not be upset if they were not welcomed.

Mark tells us that Jesus said, “Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” Shaking the dust from your feet in those days was an outward expression of protest. It was a way of saying, “I am not wasting my time with you.” Jesus does not want us to argue and debate with people about our faith. Simply put, we do not have to—we hold the truth. According to Matthew, Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.” Matthew 10:15

Jesus was talking about the people who know that God exists, but do not want to listen to the Word or have anything to do with the Church. Jesus was saying that these people are worse because they deliberately choose to reject God. These people are Satan's disciples and not God's disciples.

We must pray for them that they will have a change of heart because these people have allowed themselves to be taken over by the evil one and they will try their very best to intimidate us. They will look down on us and call us crazy for going to church saying that there is no need to go to church to pray. We should never allow these people to scare us or intimidate us because the devil and his lies are no match for us when we are with Jesus in faith.

Instead, remember the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus said, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” Matthew 5:12 Remember that you are in the company of Amos and all of the prophets and martyrs who gave their lives because of their faith. When we are in their company; we are in God's company!

Reading 1          Amos 7:12-15

Amaziah, priest of Bethel, said to Amos, “Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah!
There earn your bread by prophesying, but never again prophesy in Bethel; for it is the king’s sanctuary and a royal temple.”
Amos answered Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company of prophets; I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores.
The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me, Go, prophesy to my people Israel.”

Responsorial Psalm          Psalm 85:9-14

R. (8) Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

I will hear what God proclaims; the LORD —for he proclaims peace.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land.
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

The LORD himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him, and prepare the way of his steps.
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

Reading 2          Ephesians 1:3-14

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him.
In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved.
In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us.
In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times,
to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.

In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.
In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory.

Gospel          Mark 6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts.
They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.
He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave.
Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.”
So they went off and preached repentance.
The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

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The Descent of the Holy Spirit
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Paragraph 767 "When the work which the Father gave the Son to do on earth was accomplished, the Holy Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost in order that he might continually sanctify the Church."174 Then "the Church was openly displayed to the crowds and the spread of the Gospel among the nations, through preaching, was begun."175 As the "convocation" of all men for salvation, the Church in her very nature is missionary, sent by Christ to all the nations to make disciples of them.176

The Holy Spirit came to Mary and the Apostles as tongues of fire.

Saint of the Day

St. Bonaventure
(1221 – 7/15/1274)

Amos was told to flee Bethel in Judah because the temple was the king's sanctuary but Amos stood his ground because he had been told by the LORD to prophesy to the people of Israel. 

St. Paul tells us that heaven is our destiny because of God's love for us and the blood of Christ.

Alleluia Cf. Eph 1:17-18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to our call.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus sent the disciples 2 by 2 and told them to take nothing with them.

When Jesus told the disciples to shake the dust off their feet in protest, He was telling them not to waste time with people who would not listen to them.

Saints of the Week

Our Lady of Mount Carmel
7/16/2015

Patron Saint of: Chile

St. Bonaventure
7/17/2018

(1221-1274)

St. Camillus de Lellis
7/18/2018
(1550 – 7/14/1614)
Patron Saint of:
Hospitals, Nurses & Sick

St. Mary MacKillop
7/19/2018
(1/15/1842 – 8/8/1909)

St. Apollinaris
7/20/2018
(d. c. 79)

St. Lawrence of Brindisi
7/21/2018
(7/22/1559 – 7/22/1619)

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