July 15, 2012

Bulletin July 15 ’12 15 Sun Ordin B

Amos 7:12-15; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 6:7-13
Why me? God created me in love and I have freedom and why me. I have said so often that God just doesn’t seem to answer ‘Why’ questions. So what is my life all about? What is each person’s life all about? I look back through my life and I think of the people that passed through my life and thought not ‘why’ they passed though my life but ‘what’ have they done for me. How they have touched me? What was their legacy to me? Somehow they thought that I was important enough that the message they left with me was ‘for me and for future use’. And since it is all about God, the source of the ‘why’ is God and His plan for me. This plan has to focus on what He has gifted me with and what He needs me to pass on, my legacy. So am I doing this? Do I even reflect on this? Am I ever grateful enough? Is gratitude what the devil does not want me to do? If so, why? It must be that if I reflect on this ‘call’… or ‘invitation’ … or ‘need’ that God has for me, then I will discover the intimacy and legacy that God has for me. These clues to God’s plan for me are what I found in the readings today.
The first reading is the special story of Amos who was shepherd and worked pruning sycamores. He was not chosen by anyone to be a prophet; he enjoyed no patronage from royalty nor was he connected with a particular shrine that had prophets nor was he in a ‘prophetic guild.’ He wasn’t really welcomed with open hands either, in fact he was ‘ordered’ to go home and to leave the people alone. His response is interesting: “Not my idea to be here, or to be doing this. I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores. The Lord told me to do this.” I think, ‘what has the Lord told me to do…or, where has the Lord led me and said, ‘Be Me.’ in doing this, God never means that it is going to be easy; or that I will be welcomed; or that everything will go without incident. He just needs me and each person to be there and be doers of His word and love; He takes care of the rest. The seed is planted and when it grows and comes to fruition, God knows.
Paul is telling the Ephesians that God’s plan for salvation is not an afterthought. This is His plan from the beginning. The ones God has chosen, and that’s each Christian, every person really, is not chosen because they were special, or knew everything or even that they were holy but that they might become holy and blameless. Salvation is the cause and not the consequence of virtue. God has chosen each person to be a part of His plan. And each and every part of His plan is not only important but it is vital.
The Gospel prepares the twelve apostles for their first mission and they go out in two’s. I always wonder who was attached to whom; who was with Peter, Judas, Thomas and John—what did they talk about, how excited were they, what people touched them and left them with the ‘touch of God’? How did it feel when they touched someone and that person was healed immediately? Was there hugs and thanks…did they take the credit and be proud…did they tell them about Jesus…what did it do to their faith? Whatever happened, Jesus gave them the message that God gave to Amos: if the message of God: salvation and love is accepted, then be grateful. If it isn’t accepted, it is not wanted, move along.
So it all comes down to God’s plan: the reason I was created is that I’m a not an island to myself, I am part of the mainland. God created me with others to share with others, to care for others, to show and be Christ to them. God continues to send me and each believer out each day just as He did with the prophets and the apostles. The world, more specifically, the world God has placed me in needs this message more than ever: God wants a family that will be faithful to Him, to love each other and care for His earth and creation. God wants me and each person to be holy; this holiness doesn’t come from me but comes as a gift from God. So I reflect on:

• How do I deal with failure?
  
• Do I realize that I am ‘just the right person’ to make God’s word clear and meaningful to each person who hears me?
  
• Do I turn to God when I’m discouraged?
  
• Am I willing to ‘step aside’ when the right person is right next to me or do I need the attention?
  

Living the Word, a scripture reflection series says this about the focus of today’s reading: “God doesn’t work alone. From the beginning God engaged others in the works of creation and salvation: Adam named the animals, Noah built the ark, Abraham and Sarah birthed a people, Moses led them to freedom. Prophets, priests and kings – all were given jobs. Jesus did – and does – the same with His disciples.” And God created me with the role He graced me and hoped I would do. Praise God that He had that confidence in me; but it’s not about His confidence, it’s about His love. Thank you Lord for your blessings…help me today. This is the only day I have; yesterday is passed, tomorrow isn’t here yet, so I have this day to work on your plan; I have this day to love like You.