The Lectionary and Scripture Interpretation for Ordinary Time
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Amos 7:12-15
Chapters 7-9 contain five visions, interrupted by a biographical interlude in 7:10-17. In v11 Amos gives a prophecy that the king would die and Israel would be exiled. This, of course, was considered treasonous. Amaziah was a “church official” – a paid employee, in a culture where there was no distinction between church and state. So an attack on the king was equally an attack on the church. Amos was called by God and he resided outside the official hierarchy. Amaziah took issue with both Amos’ status and message, and he tried to send Amos away. Amos invoked his call as justification for the message. Amaziah tells Amos to go South and earn his keep there.
In v12, Amaziah calls Amos a “seer,” a somewhat obsolete term that was probably derogatory. Amos was seen as an outsider, interfering with affairs not relevant to him.
Amaziah is trying to characterize Amos as a prophet-for-hire, someone who only cares about money. But in v14, Amos insists he is different than that. He is not a professional in that sense. His credibility and authority rest in being called by God.
It’s all too easy to use the “Amos Defense”: I’m no preacher, I’m just a __________. Amos says he’s just a farmer and shepherd. And yet, many of the images he uses in his prophecies are clearly rooted in his life as a farmer and shepherd. God called Amos to do something outside his comfort zone but God worked with what Amos knew. It’s the same with us. God calls us to do things that might be beyond our current experience, but God always starts with the things we already know. Where can you see evidence of this in your own life?
Ephesians 1:3-14 or 1:3-10
Today we move into the book of Ephesians. The lectionary manages to spend seven Sundays in this short little letter. As always, try to read the book in its entirety at least once or twice to get a feel for the overall tone.
The reading today is a blessing, and in the Greek text, this entire passage is one long sentence. It suggests a liturgical connection – perhaps the passage was used in some liturgy, or pieces of liturgy have been combined. It is meant to be read aloud: there is a lot of repetition so that the hearer will hold on to the important concepts.
I love this observation from John O’Donohue:
“What is a blessing?
John O’Donohue ‘The Lost Art of Blessing’ in To Bless the Space Between Us
A blessing is a circle of light
drawn around a person to protect, heal, and strengthen.
Life is a constant flow of emergence.
The beauty of blessing is its belief that it can affect what unfolds.”
The main emphasis in this passage is all the good things God has done for God’s people. As one commentary put it, the passage “praises God for establishing a community of believers chosen in Christ – set apart – before the foundation of the world.”
This passage figures heavily in the study of predestination. I think it’s interesting that the Catholic lectionary provides an alternate that leaves these verses out. Does the Catholic church think the faithful will be confused by hearing these verses?
If we were to summarize this passage, it might be a list of all the reasons we have to bless and praise God:
- God blesses us in Christ.
- God had a plan from the very beginning of redemption and healing, and God is actively at work bringing this plan to fruition.
- God intended us to be a part of that plan through Christ.
- God’s grace.
- God’s redemption and forgiveness.
- God lavishly supplies wisdom and knowledge.
- God has revealed to us the mystery of his will, the plan God has always had for our redemption.
- God chose each one of us and gave us a purpose.
- God gives the Holy Spirit.
- The Holy Spirit is just the beginning of the good things God wants to give us.
One way to pray with this passage is to use this list as a sort of checklist of all the good God has brought into your life. Another way is to focus on just one item and pray very specifically around it. For example, you might sit with the grace God has abundantly given you and praise God for the many ways that has taken shape in your life. Yet another way is to create your own list from your own personal experience: what has God done in your life that moves you to praise of God?
Mark 6:7-13
In 6:6-8:21, we’ll see a repeating pattern of miracles followed by controversy. In this reading, the disciples are portrayed in a positive light. This won’t hold up for long.
This week Jesus will send out the Twelve and next week they’ll return to him. Sandwiched between these incidents and not included in the lectionary is the report of the beheading of John the Baptist. It’s an important connection because it tells us that discipleship is more than healing. It is the confrontation of evil and, potentially, death.
The reading begins in v7 with some important terms. “Summoned” is a technical term for someone with authority requiring someone’s presence. “Send out” is the Greek word apostellein, from which we derive apostle. Many activities in Mark use the verb form that indicates a progressive action such as this verse: Jesus began to send them out. It sounds like he didn’t send all 12 out at once. I think it’s very important to note here that he does not send them out on their own. We are not meant to do ministry in isolation. Yes, there are hermits who live in great solitude. But true hermits are few and far between and even they will often have a soul friend. Who supports you in your ministry? Who do you support?
Vv8-11 were likely a sort of checklist for the early church missionaries. And we can see that Jesus sends the disciples off to do what he is doing in the same way he is doing it. “The journey” is a Greek word meaning “the way,” and it was an early term referring to the whole of the Christian life. It suggests that this passage is not limited to traveling missionaries but is meant to apply to all Christians.
Last week, Jesus tried to minister in his native place and that didn’t end well. V6 gives us a picture of Jesus amazed at the lack of faith, so he begins to widen the circle, visiting villages in the vicinity. Today’s passage shows us the circle growing ever larger as Jesus sends out the Twelve to heal. The tasks that Jesus sends them out to do are the very ones he’s already been doing himself, especially in 1:16-39. I always find this passage a bit amusing: notice the mission Jesus gives them in v7 but notice what they actually do in v12. How often are we given a task by God and then go off and do something completely different?! That said, v13 does clarify that they did indeed heal like Jesus had told them to do. There is another lesson here, I think, about how intricately related healing and conversion are. It’s not by accident that many religious institutions run medical clinics and hospitals. This is also a great example of the multiplicity of meaning in the scriptures. Both observations are true; there’s no one right answer. Very likely, one or the other will speak to us at different points in the journey. This is why we can read the same passages over and over again and never exhaust their meaning.
The images in this passage can speak a variety of messages: the urgency of the task, complete dependence on God, the necessity of community, and the vital importance of the message are some themes. Which theme speaks to you right now? Can you detect other themes?
The apostles first had to be “with him” (Mark 3:14). Now they are sent out. In what ways have you been “with Jesus” and how has that prepared you for being sent out on mission? How has being “with Jesus” informed the message you share?
Why do we exist as a community? There’s nothing in this passage about building spectacular cathedrals or even nice buildings. There’s nothing about creating a hierarchy of control. Nothing about focusing on growing the size of a congregation or counting the ordinations of priests. The picture Jesus gives us of our mission and community is very simple: go out in small groups, depend on God for absolutely everything, and freely share what you’ve experienced of God’s love and grace. Be fearless, confront evil where you find it, and accept hospitality freely given. What if this was God’s vision for the ecclesia (church) and we highjacked it and turned it into something God never intended? What if the current shortage of vocations is indicative of the Holy Spirit calling us back to the original foundations? What if God is powerfully at work in the church today in a way that many (especially those in authority) don’t want to acknowledge?
Get your Bible out and flip through the Gospel of Mark up until this point. Take note of the things the disciples have witnessed from Jesus and how they responded. One case in point: Jesus calms a storm – something only God can do – and then they get irritated with him when he demands to know who in a crowd touched him. Over and over, these followers witness who Jesus is and remain uncomprehending. But that doesn’t stop Jesus from summoning and sending them to do the work of the kingdom.
In this passage, Jesus prepares his followers for what seems like failure. He tells them what to do when they are rejected. It’s important to keep in mind that following God will entail rejection and it is not our business to exact punishment for that. We are to leave those who reject us behind and let God deal with them.
Don’t get too caught up in the literal with this passage. Jesus gives explicit instructions about what to take and what to do on mission that applied to a group of people in first-century Palestine. What instructions might he give the church or you today? What might Jesus tell you to let go of in order to embrace the call? What are you carrying that might limit your ability to serve and spread the gospel? Or, what is one thing that keeps you from progressing in the spiritual life? Is there a habit or relationship that chronically impacts you? What is one step you could take to lighten the load? This utter dependence on God for the very basic necessities of life is a challenge for most people. Can I trust God for food, shelter, and clothing? In what ways do I already rely on God for these things? Where is God calling me to a deeper trust?
Connections
Amos and the Twelve were from varied but common backgrounds: shepherds and fishermen. God called them into work they weren’t trained or equipped to do. And yet…. Their backgrounds provided plenty of context that could be adapted to their new calling. How has your background prepared you to do the ministry to which God has called you?
The theme of choosing and call runs throughout all three readings. Ordinary people are given extraordinary tasks, as well as the grace and authority to carry them out.
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© 2024 Kelly Sollinger