Blessed ENCOUNTERS Monday, June 30, 2014 Monday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time A Man Named Amos The daily Scripture passages for this weeks first readings are all taken from the Book of the Prophet Amos. For historical background it is important to know that after the death of Solomon in about 922 BC, the Jewish nation split into two kingdoms: Israel in the north and Judah in the south. In previous weeks, the First and Second Book of Kings has recounted how Israel fell in 722 BC, and Judah capitulated in 587 BC with the destruction of Jerusalem. Amos was active as a prophet in Israel sometime before its fall, probably between 760-750 BC. Although this was a time of apparent peace and prosperity, Amos prophesied divine chastisement for the moral crimes of Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Judah, and most especially, Israel (cf. todays reading). Amos prophecy develops the moral implications of God as all-good, and therefore intolerant of all evil. At that time, worship of God was often superstitious and superficial - many people assumed that as long as sacrifice was offered to Him, God would be satisfied and protect His chosen people, even in spite of their evil transgressions. This sentiment is confronted in Psalm 49(50), but tragically, this attitude toward faith can still be found today (more on this later). Yet the clear insight arising from the prophecy of Amos is that the chosen people certainly and most especially are not excluded from Gods moral law, so when they choose evil, evil comes upon them! As we are confronted this week with the words of Amos, it is most important that we do not dismiss them as merely directed to others, or as the warning of an out-of-touch alarmist. These words are for you and for me also, that we may repent of any and all transgressions (personal and collective) against Gods moral law, especially crimes (even when legally sanctioned) against the weak and the lowly, the poor and the small.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 05:41:39 +0000
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