15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
I was no prophet…The Lord said to me, Go prophesy to my people Israel. Many of us can relate to Amos, the reluctant prophet. We are asked to serve as a liturgical minister, on a parish commission, or help with a parish project, and we are tempted to say others are better able to do so than I am. We see a need in our community or neighborhood; our response is that others know more about that. I am not qualified. Or we see a social issue that needs to be addressed, and we respond that someone should do something for those people, our earth, or end that war.
We are the ones who need to do something! At baptism, we are anointed priests, prophets, and royal persons (kings). We are sent to prophesy—to speak the good news of God’s love and mercy to others. When we are tempted to protest that we do not know enough or have the gifts needed, the words of Saint Paul should echo in our minds and hearts, reminding us that we have been blest with every spiritual blessing in heaven. In the Eucharist, we are blessed with Christ’s nourishing and sending us to be his presence in the world.
The Twelve were sent to go out and bring healing and hope to others. They were told to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick. Perhaps what prevents us from going out is the many things we have packed into our minds and hearts. We carry our preconceived ideas, prejudices, refusals to see others as equals, and fear of leaving our comfortable lives.
Am I willing to go out taking only trust that God is true to his promise to accomplish his plan through me?
Let us pray:
Lord, we ask you to let us see your kindness and grant us your salvation. May your Spirit fill our hearts with courage and love so we may go forth and enable others to see your kindness through our acts of care, compassion, and commitment to justice and peace. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
