Sunday Homily, July 15, 2012, 15th Ordinary Time B
Readings:
Amos, 7, 12-15, The Lord took me from following the flock, and said to me, “Go, prophesy to my people Israel. (Expanding the reading)
Psalm 85, Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
Ephesians 1, 3-14 In love he destined us for adoption to himself.
Mark 6, 7-13, Take nothing for the journey but a walking stick, no food, no sack, no money.
Amos:
Author: Amos or his scribe. He was a shepherd of sheep & tended sycamore trees. One of the 12 minor prophets of the OT, minor because of smallness of the works. Amos has only 9 chapters. Usual pattern of prophets: 1. condemnation of the people’s behavior; 2. predictions of severe punishment for the behavior; 3. promises of better times in the future.
Date: Ca. 777 (a memory help), after the kingships of David & Solomon, time of King Jeroboam of the northern kingdom, called Israel vs the southern kingdom, called Judah (where Jerusalem is).
Geography: Note the two kingdoms, Judah in the south, Israel in the north. Amos tended sheep in a little town called Tekoa, 10 miles south of Jerusalem, in Judah, the south. He is sent by Yahweh to Bethel, a small but important town in the northern kingdom, 10 miles north of Jerusalem, to warn the people of Israel & their king Jeroboam that Yahweh was mad at them. The wicked high priest of Bethel, Amaziah condemns Amos for his interference.
The Setting: a time of prosperity. But Yahweh is mad at the greed of the wealthy and their oppression of the poor (which ties into our gospel talking about walking lightly through life). We know the people of this kingdom of Israel are headed for annihilation by the Assyrian nation. And they will disappear as a significant body, around 700 before Christ.
Our Selection, chapter 7: (reading all of chapter 7) Amos describes three visions or dreams he has. Amaziah gives it to him for spreading these visions around. Then, Amos responds and socks it to Amaziah with a hammer.
Mark: a couple of reminders–
1. Mark is the first of the 4 gospels written, ca 70 C.E. Note: Jerusalem & the Temple were smashed by the Romans in 70, after a Jewish rebellion. In 73 the famous Masada battle took place. More about this event another day. Just think, from this date until 1948 a Jewish state did not exist.
2. The first written documents were by Paul, his letters.
Sources: Grace Institute of Biblical Leadership; Catholic Encyclopedia; Wikipedia
Want to be free? Travel lightly.
Ever been to The Bridge? Know what it is? The Bridge is one of the homeless shelters in downtown Dallas, just south of City Hall. It was built by the City. It serves 3 meals a day and houses about 350 people overnight.
Rosemary & I have been there about 6 times this year to help serve meals. My favorite job is the tray collector. What I do is stand in a corner near the exit and a window into the dish washing area. As each person finishes they walk up, give me their tray, and exit. I empty into trash bins leftover food, pour leftover water down a sink, send the utensils through the window, and, this is why it is my favorite, I chat up each person, thanking them for coming in and wishing them a good afternoon or night.
Frequently as the people depart they pick up bundles they leave by the door. These bundles contain their earthly possessions. I often ask them what they got inside. Extra clothing, extra pair of shoes, toilet articles, maybe a momento. That’s it.
I thought about these men and women when I read the instruction to take nothing for the journey. Wow. I can feel guilty. I certainly cannot fit all I have into a bundle, let alone take nothing for the journey.
I’ve touched upon some of this before, but let me remind you. Three observations.
First, we have here another example of the spirituality of infinite demand vs. infinite acceptance. This is hyperbole. It is not meant to be taken literally. We don't have to live like the people in The Bridge, one bundle with all our belongings
Secondly, having said this, there comes along the danger to discount the principle. Spiritual & physical freedom is involved here.
I confess I normally do not have much trouble with this principle. By nature and by Jesuit training I do not like too much stuff in my life. I can drive Rosemary crazy. If I don’t use something for a year, clothes or book, whatever, I want to hand it over to charity. Not always provident.
There is the cynical statement going around that he wins who ends up with the most toys. Delusion. This reminds me of the monkey & banana story. The monkey is holding on to a banana in a cage. He cannot get his hand out without letting loose of the banana. He won’t let loose. He is trapped. We can be trapped by our stuff.
Thirdly, the journey mentioned by Jesus is a metaphor. It is not a journey like riding a bike across Iowa, which Rosemary & I will do next Sunday. It is the journey of life.
The challenge: travel lightly the journey of life.
What do you need to toss overboard to lighten your journey of life?