Homily- July 2nd,
Thursday of the 13th Week of Ordinary Time, Year B
Prophets Who Risk Rejection
and Abuse
Readings: Amos 7:10-17; Ps
19:8-11; Matt 9:1-8
You would all agree being a
Christian, a follow of Christ, or a faithful Catholic is not easy. Christians are called to be prophets in one
way or the other- speaking, preaching and acting courageously in matters of
faith and justice. It entails not only enduring rejection, abuse but the
willingness to carry their daily crosses after the path of Christ. It entails speaking the truth with love, joys
and patience. Hasn’t Pope Francis recently speak of the “Joy of the Gospel?” Today’s
readings, in a way, speak to this.
When the Prophet Amos went
to preach to Israel in the North he was confronted with rejection, abuse and
discrimination by Amaziah and King Jeroboam II. Amos is asked by members of the
King’s household, bad civil authority in the first reading, perhaps because of
his looks, message or accent to go back to Judah and earn his living there. And
never to preach in Bethel again. Of
course, they paid a bitter price for this. For Amos authority truly came from
God.
Similarly in the Gospel (Matt 9:1-8), Christ
rejected and called a blasphemer even as he was healing and helping the
paralytic in his very home town! But,
the good news is that it wasn’t long, those who were suspicious of Christ
recognized that his authority truly came from God his father, and glorified
God, at last.
The glory of the Lord awaits every Christian,
every child of God, and believer who perseveres to the end in every
circumstance we find ourselves. You are called to be a prophet in the bus, in
the class, in that plane, in and outside the church and synagogues, in the
factory, offices and government buildings and positions or wherever we find
ourselves.
Reflection Questions
1.
Do you see yourself
as a prophet in your state of life?
2.
How do you reconcile
your Christian faith with civil authority or the “Jeroboams” or “Amazias today ”
and “false Scribes” of our times?
3.
Have you ever been
wrong abused, discriminated or rejected, because of your color, faith,
religion, culture, or gender?
4.
In what way do you
help to heal modern day slavery and segregation?
