Scripture Study for

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Understanding the Word

By Br. John R. Barker, OFM

Amos has been preaching in Bethel, an important cultic site that  featured a golden calf, set up by Jeroboam as a rival cult to Jerusalem  (1 Kings 12:26–31), and thus “the king’s sanctuary.” Amaziah  addresses Amos as if he were a “professional” prophet whose earns  his bread by prophesying. Such prophets were often suspect, since  their “prophecies” could be geared to favor whoever paid them.  Amos insists that he is not a professional prophet; he had a job from  which he was taken away by God to perform the dangerous task of  preaching in places like Bethel. The rhetorical point is to affirm that  Amos is a genuine, because reluctant, prophet, not one seeking to  profit from his task. 

Paul begins his letter the Ephesians by bringing into focus the  divine plan, which the church has been formed to announce. The  language of being “chosen” and called to be “holy and without  blemish” recalls God’s creation of Israel. In the case of both Israel  and the church, God has redeemed and forgiven because God is rich  in grace, but also for a larger purpose, “the mystery of his will,”  which is now revealed to be to “sum up all things in Christ.” The  church, then, is not a collection of individuals, but a people called  forth by God for a purpose, which, when fully known, will lead to  the “praise of the glory of his grace.” 

Despite the faithlessness he has recently encountered, Jesus now  sends the Twelve out with the authority to do the “mighty deeds” he  has been able to do for those who have faith. They are taking almost  nothing with them, which is both an expression of trust in God’s  providence and a sign that they are not seeking profit from their  work. This is also why they are told to stay in the same house that  welcomes them, rather than to accept any offers they may receive  for nicer accommodations—another sign they would be looking out  for themselves rather than the Kingdom and the people to whom it  is proclaimed.

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