Texts taken from the Missal “On Your Word” July-August 2021

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
3rd week of the Psalter

FIRST READING

From the book of the prophet Amos (Am 7:12-15)
In those days, Amaziah, [the priest of Bethel,] said to Amos: “Go away, seer; go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and prophesy there, but do not prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king’s sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom.” Amos answered Amaziah: “I was no prophet, nor the son of a prophet; I was a herdsman and I cultivated sycamore trees. The Lord took me and called me while I was following the flock. The Lord said to me: Go, prophesy to my people Israel.” – The word of God. 

Commentary on the first reading

Amos is not a scholar; he is a poor farmer and livestock breeder. The Lord calls him from his humble work and, through a surprising and powerful initiative, sends him to prophesy to his people. Amos can only obey this call; the prophetic vocation is irresistible and makes itself heard: “The Lord roars from Zion and from Jerusalem makes his voice heard… the Lord God has spoken,” and he denounces every wrongdoing, making many powerful enemies inside and outside the king’s court. Amos is not afraid; he knows that he risks his life, knows that he may be accused and driven away. Reading the book of Amos, we find no substantial differences between what he experienced and denounced and what we experience today: the same abuses, interests, grossly unequal distribution of wealth, the poor despised, perversions, lust, legalized exploitation. We too forget that we have not only been freed, but purchased at a great price… Every day is the right day to be true disciples of Christ.

SECOND READING

From the letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians (Eph 1:3-14)
Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, in Christ. In him he chose us, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him in love, predestining us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the design of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. In him, through his blood, we have redemption, the forgiveness of transgressions, according to the riches of his grace. He has lavished it upon us, together with all wisdom and understanding, making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in him for the administration of the fullness of the times: to recapitulate all things in Christ, the one head, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we were also made heirs, predestined according to the purpose of the one who accomplishes all things according to his will, to be the praise of his glory, we who have already hoped in Christ. In him you too, after hearing the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and believing in it, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the pledge of our inheritance, awaiting the complete redemption of those whom God has acquired for the praise of his glory. – The word of God.

Commentary on the second reading

This is one of those passages that simply bring joy, without explanation. Just look at the words: blessed, chosen, love, loving design, grace, beloved, good pleasure… all expressions rich in love, splendor, and forgiveness. It also tells us that we are heirs. An heir cannot be a slave, nor a servant, wage earner, acquaintance, friend, or even a close relative. In particular, in Jesus’ time the heir was the firstborn son. So the heir is not just anyone: he is the one who is loved, the one always kept in mind, the one who is truly cherished. But he is also someone who did nothing to become one; he did not study or work hard, nor make efforts and sacrifices to earn that role. We are God’s heirs; it tells us so in unmistakable terms. It also tells us that the Holy Spirit, whom we received in Baptism, is “the pledge of our inheritance, awaiting the complete redemption of those whom God has acquired for the praise of his glory.”

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Mark (Mk 6:7-13)
At that time, 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 staff: no bread, no sack, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to take a second tunic. He said to them: “Wherever you enter a house, remain there until you leave. If any place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went off and proclaimed that the people should repent. They drove out many demons, anointed many sick people with oil, and cured them. –
The word of the Lord.

Commentary on the Gospel of the day

Don Milani wrote: “And then it is pride to believe in the power of one’s own words; with words, one does nothing for people. On the divine level, grace is needed, and on the human level, example is needed.” This is a good lesson for those who preach the Kingdom while forgetting the power of the Gospel, thereby reducing it to a mere human word. There are two risks: the first is believing that human advancement is sufficient to evangelize; the second is believing that evangelizing means preaching an abstract doctrine, distant from our lives and our daily actions. How true Don Milani’s words are! How often, in our pride, we presume to bring Jesus to others while perhaps knowing very little about him. More than anything else, we forget that in order to help others encounter Christ, we must first have encountered him ourselves. Not to mention example: Christians who profess the Gospel, but whose conduct in life is something entirely different. So let us take the twelve apostles as our model, behave as disciples called and sent by the Lord, proclaiming his Word, free from false humility, which is pride in disguise.