Daily Retreat 06/30/08
2008 Jun 30 Mon: Ordinary Weekday/ First Martyrs of the Church of Rome
Am 2: 6-10. 13-16/ Ps 49(50): 16bc-17. 18-19. 20-21. 22-23/ Mt 8: 18-22
From today’s readings: “Thus says the LORD: For three crimes of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke My word.... Remember this, you who never think of God.... Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest His head....”
A Man Named Amos
The daily first readings this week will be 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 Books of Kings 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. today’s 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 God’s moral law, so when they chose evil, evil will come upon them!
So 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 God’s moral law, especially crimes (even when legally sanctioned) against the weak and the lowly, the poor and the small.
Am 2: 6-10. 13-16/ Ps 49(50): 16bc-17. 18-19. 20-21. 22-23/ Mt 8: 18-22
From today’s readings: “Thus says the LORD: For three crimes of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke My word.... Remember this, you who never think of God.... Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest His head....”
A Man Named Amos
The daily first readings this week will be 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 Books of Kings 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. today’s 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 God’s moral law, so when they chose evil, evil will come upon them!
So 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 God’s moral law, especially crimes (even when legally sanctioned) against the weak and the lowly, the poor and the small.
posted by FrPitstick | 6/27/2008
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