15th
Sunday of Ordinary Time -
Year B
TODAY'S READINGS
1st Reading: Amos 7: 12-15
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 85: 9-10, 11-12, 13-14
2nd Reading: Ephesians 1: 3-14
Alleluia: Ephesians 1: 17-18
Gospel: Mark 6: 7-13
Put simply, the primary motivation for giving is gratitude.
In the First Reading, Amos the prophet, who was a shepherd
and a “dresser of sycamores,” found that God wanted him for a new job. Not
watching the flock, not pruning trees. Now he was to be a visionary: someone
who would prophesy to the people.
Shocking.
Why did Amos respond so boldly?
Perhaps the fierce, quiet landscape of this country had
opened him and had let God give to him. His action was an act of gratitude.
Same thing for the apostles in the Gospel. They were men of
action, so they did not notice that they were being grateful to Jesus. But they
did have a growing realization of what he was giving to them, and secretly they
loved him more and more. Their gratitude was their reason for going where he
sent them.
So when he told them to go out and preach, and banish
demons, they knew that the mission fit them. He had found a way for them to
begin seeing with both eyes.
Let’s us keep our eyes open too. We are very much loved.
And ready to be sent.
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