How many watched Lightning win hockey's Stanley Cup again? It was a great ending after Tropical Storm Elsa.
In our “Sunshine State” forecasts often have summer showers. But the sun still shines. There's a saying, “Let a smile be your umbrella on rainy days.” So, be positive about life. Remember: God is still in charge.
The Word of God takes us to the 8th century before Jesus (the 700s), to Israel’s divided kingdom of the north, to a man named Amos. Here Amos is told to go back home to the kingdom of the south where he came from and make a living there as a prophet. Amos replies he never wanted to be a prophet, only a sheepherder. But God called him to speak against social injustice and preach he did: about fairness, honesty and compassion. Amos may be asking us to examine how we treat our fellow human beings.
Paul’s letter to the community at Ephesus begins with a prayer about the blessings God has bestowed upon us through Jesus Christ. Through Christ we are sons and daughters of God, heirs to God’s kingdom. Paul then challenges us to live a holy life, to reflect the presence of God in our daily activities.
And in the Gospel according to Mark, Jesus sends his disciples out to proclaim that the kingdom of God is at hand. Therefore, repent; orient your life to God; live simply; be hospitable; be healers and peacemakers; and recognize our absolute dependency upon God.
Today, I would like to take up a major theme in Amos: how we treat our fellow human beings? Do we treat them fairly, honestly and compassionately?
Jesus connects our love of God to our love for one another: when I was hungry, when I was thirsty, you did something. We can’t say we love God and neglect our fellow human beings.
Jesus makes some radical demands upon us, his disciples. Read carefully Matt. Chapter 5. Jesus says: “give to everyone who asks.” But that’s not always possible. But Jesus indicates the direction of our lives: to be generous with what we have.
Jesus says elsewhere: “To the person who strikes you on one side of the face, offer the other side as well.” Yet sometimes we may have to stand up against wrongs. Again, Jesus indicates the thrust: that we do our best to be peacemakers, healers, bridge builders.
These radical demands are linked to the mission of Jesus, who proclaims that the kingdom of God is at hand. Yes, the kingdom is here but not completely or fully. You and I live in between the historical coming of Jesus and the final coming of Jesus.
Often, we fall short of Jesus's ethical ideals because we have a tendency to not always choose the good. We call this tendency original sin.
But the power of God within us can overcome this “pull” or tendency; and this power enables us to have a good relationship with God and with one another.
How? By seeing the image of God in every human being, no matter how murky the image appears on the outside.
The son can barely bring himself to tell his family. When he does, the sister launches into a tirade. Her mother interrupts and says: “I thought I taught you to love your brother.” “Love him!” the daughter says. “There’s nothing left to love!” But the mother replies: “There is always something left to love … When do you think it’s time to love your brother the most: when he’s done something good and made things easy for us? No! Not at all. It’s when he’s at his lowest and can’t believe in himself because the world has whipped him badly.”
The mother had it right. Love doesn’t depend upon what others can do for us. Jesus assures us of his unconditional love and forgiveness. Jesus asks us to be as ready as he was to lift up one another.
All of us have the potential to do great things for God. It begins with small, ordinary things. And so, I pray that the Word of God, especially in the Book of Amos, will inspire us to seek a better relationship with God and with our fellow human beings. The kingdom of God is at hand. Travel lightly. Let go of those grudges and resentments and disappointments and worries and seek the kingdom of God.
