CATHOLIC MISSAL
JULY 11TH,2021
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
First Reading: Amos 7: 12-15
12 And Amasias said to Amos: Thou seer, go, flee away into the land of Juda: and eat bread there, and prophesy there.
13 But prophesy not again any more in Bethel: because it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is the house of the kingdom.
14 And Amos answered and said to Amasias: I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet: but I am a herdsman plucking wild figs.
15 And the Lord took me when I followed the flock, and the Lord said to me: Go, prophesy to my people Israel.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 85: 9-10, 11-12, 13-14 (8)
9 I will hear what the Lord God will speak in me: for he will speak peace unto his people: And unto his saints: and unto them that are converted to the heart.
10 Surely his salvation is near to them that fear him: that glory may dwell in our land.
11 Mercy and truth have met each other: justice and peace have kissed.
12 Truth is sprung out of the earth: and justice hath looked down from heaven.
13 For the Lord will give goodness: and our earth shall yield her fruit.
14 Justice shall walk before him: and shall set his steps in the way.
(8 shew us, O Lord, thy mercy; and grant us thy salvation.)
Second Reading: Ephesians 1: 3-14
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with spiritual blessings in heavenly places, in Christ:
4 As he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and unspotted in his sight in charity.
5 Who hath predestinated us unto the adoption of children through Jesus Christ unto himself: according to the purpose of his will:
6 Unto the praise of the glory of his grace, in which he hath graced us in his beloved son.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the remission of sins, according to the riches of his grace,
8 Which hath superabounded in us in all wisdom and prudence,
9 That he might make known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed in him,
10 In the dispensation of the fulness of times, to re-establish all things in Christ, that are in heaven and on earth, in him.
11 In whom we also are called by lot, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things according to the counsel of his will.
12 That we may be unto the praise of his glory, we who before hoped Christ:
13 In whom you also, after you had heard the word of truth, (the gospel of your salvation;) in whom also believing, you were signed with the holy Spirit of promise,
14 Who is the pledge of our inheritance, unto the redemption of acquisition, unto the praise of his glory.
Gospel: Mark 6: 7-13
7 And he called the twelve; and began to send them two and two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.
8 And he commanded them that they should take nothing for the way, but a staff only: no scrip, no bread, nor money in their purse,
9 But to be shod with sandals, and that they should not put on two coats.
10 And he said to them: Wheresoever you shall enter into an house, there abide till you depart from that place.
11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you; going forth from thence, shake off the dust from your feet for a testimony to them.
12 And going forth they preached that men should do penance:
13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
RECOLLECTION
Amos 7:(10-11)12-15
Prophet Amos’ straight message, striking at the evil conditions among the people of Israel, naturally aroused resentful opposition. The priest at Bethel accused Amos before the king. Amaziah craftily endeavoured to make Amos prediction against the royal house appear to be treason. Thus he hoped to silence the messages addressed to Israel by the prophet Amos. In their hatred of the children of God,the wicked have often accused the righteous of subverting the government. The prophet had foretold a sword against the house of Jeroboam, which would not necessarily mean that the monarch himself would perish by the sword. However, rightly understood, this punishment was indeed that which must come upon king and nation if they remained impenitent.
V12. Go, flee thee away,seer.The apostate priest (Amaziah) without sanctions from Jeroboam II resorted to his own authority, such as if in his attempt to intimidate Amos and make him leave the country. Perhaps Amos would be received favourably in Judah because he came from there.(Eat bread), Amaziah insinuates that Amos was paid to prophesy and so made gain from his godliness. Amaziah may have attributed to Amos the worldly motives that influenced himself. V.13 under divine direction the courageous prophet was willing to carry God’s message into the very centre of apostate worship (the king’s chapel/sanctuary of the king/the kings court/house of the kingdom/a royal sanctuary. V14.Unafraid, Amos declines Amaziah’s insinuation (v12) and declares that he is not a prophet by profession or to gain livelihood, but simply because of God’s call. A prophet’s son: students reared in the schools of the prophets were called sons of prophets. Amos was not trained in any human institution. It is a common mistake to suppose that those who have not been educated according to generally accepted standards have not been educated at all. The Lord taught Amos in the solitude of the fields, of the valleys and of the hills of Judaeh as he tended the sheep and as he gathered the fruit of sycamore-fig tree. V15. As I followed the flock-God’s commission was imperative and Amos could not but obey it. Now was no time for the prophet to turn back just because Amaziah the priest of Bethel opposed him.