Scripture Study for
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Amos 7:12–15 / Psalm 85:8 / Ephesians 1:3–14 or 1:3–10 / Mark 6:7–13
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Understanding the Word
By Dianne Bergant, C.S.A.
Amos is told to leave the northern shrine of Bethel. The prophet defends his call from God and, in doing so, his right and responsibility to prophesy in Israel. He had not chosen to be a prophet, he had been chosen. He was not the kind of prophet who enjoyed royal patronage, one who was connected with the court or with a particular shrine, nor had he belonged to any prophetic guild. He was a prophet of God, independent of any institution. He insists that he had been summoned by God to be a prophet and then sent to the people of the northern kingdom. His coming to Bethel was due entirely to the command that he received from God.
The reading from Ephesians argues that salvation in Christ is not an after thought; it was in God’s plan from the beginning. Furthermore, the believers were not chosen because they were holy and blameless, but that they might become holy and blameless. Salvation is the cause and not the consequence of righteous ness. Through Christ, believers are chosen for adoption into the family of God. Destined for adoption through Christ, we have been redeemed by his blood. Our redemption exacted a ransom, for we were being redeemed from sin. The author insists that all of this was done so that God’s plan would finally be brought to fulfillment in Christ.
Jesus prepares the Twelve for their first missionary venture. They are given the power to drive out unclean spirits, but they can only do this through the authority of Jesus. They must participate in this mission in a truly self-sacrificing manner. Jesus prepares them for possible rejection and failure. If this happens they are to shake the dust of the place from their sandals as a symbolic act of ridding themselves of any unclean substance that might profane the land of Israel. They are to preach repentance, drive out demons, and heal the sick. In this way, the reign of God will be inaugurated.