Have you ever experienced doing something that you have not
planned or intended to do and just happened before you know it or without you
knowing it as if you had no other choice so to speak. This was what happened to
Amos, the prophet whom today’s 1st reading is taken from. Our bible
study teacher, Bro. Willy Santa Maria was so on fire in his presentation of the
Book of Amos since he said that Amos is his favorite prophet. He even tackled
about who Amos really was and gave us a broad and clear picture of what it was
like when God called Amos to prophesy. Which is also why it remained clearly
etched in my mind and was always reminded of it whenever encountering a reading
from the book of Amos. Amos apart from what is written in today's reading is
not just a shepherd and dresser of sycamores. He is a herdsman, rancher and a
wealthy person. He lives in the garrison city a place dominated by people of
power who live in luxury. He lived in affluence and belonged to the clan system
which is a guild or crusade to maintain the purity of the tradition of the temple
(Ark of the Covenant). He was well educated and embraced the clan wisdom. Although he experienced a luxurious life he
was also aware of the injustice and plight of the people being a sycamore
dresser who worked in close contact with the people. When God called him he was
already aware of both worlds. And the Lord took him from what he was doing and
summoned him to prophesy to the people. He came to a point when he no longer
owned the choices and decisions he made. This is given once a person takes upon
one’s self the duty of a prophet and the same is true when we put the will of
God in our lives over our own. Atty. Moya said in his talk on Family and Social
Morality that there should be no confusion between authority and power or
obedience and inferiority. This really makes sense in as far as what Amos did
is concerned. He mentioned that Amos clearly demonstrated to us obedience to
God's authority over power and inferiority owing to the inappropriate situation
he was in and status in life. Amos was able to differentiate the highest
authority of God over the power of the priest of Bethel and his obedience which can never be
taken as inferiority since he is also a man of power and wealth during his
time. In the same way but definitely based in our present status in life,
whoever, whatever, wherever and whenever, we are also being led to do something
in response to God's call to apostleship. It should clearly be well established
that our response is based on the authority of God and out of obedience. May we
like Amos also get over our own personal idiosyncrasies and really get down to
the real business of God. Let us not be deceived by the false
misrepresentations of the world thinking that we can get away from our
accountabilities or attempt to merge opposing worlds or acquire a little of
both. It is either heaven or hell, God or Satan. There is no in between. For no one is above or over, exempted or
excluded from the power of God. He will see to it that justice is served. Amen.
Hallelujah!
Amos 7:12-15
12 Amaziah, priest of Bethel ,
said to Amos: “Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah Bethel ; for it is the
king’s sanctuary and a royal temple.” 14 Amos answered Amaziah, “I was no
prophet, nor have I belonged to a company of prophets; I was a shepherd and a
dresser of sycamores. 15 The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to
me: Go, prophesy to my people Israel .”
What a wonderful world this place that we live in could be
if only we listen to the instructions constantly being given to us in the
scriptures. We have an awesome God who always speaks to us in a very timely and
specific manner. His messages are fitted to the situation we are presently
experiencing right now. We should remain confident that God will make a way.
There is really nothing more that God can do for us that He has not done. God
is never short of blessings to shower on us. He has made it all available to us
through His Son. All that is needed is for us to make our move. Let us open
ourselves to God's presence in our lives and know that there is never a moment
in our life when He is away from us for it is always the other way around. We
are the ones turning away from Him and placing blocks and hindrances between us
whenever we can't find Him.
We are constantly being faced by challenges to our faith
especially at this present time. It is easier to be firm in our faith when
times are easy but when tough times come that is when we are put to the test.
No matter how difficult things may seem we should never give in to the pressure
and remain steadfast. We can always choose to do the right thing if we
safeguard in our hearts the truth about God knowing that it is always for the
best. We need not be afraid of anything although this is something that we all
find very difficult to do. They say faith and reason do not work together just
like science and religion. This is not a fact but a fallacy. These things in
fact compliment each other because one supports the other. There is no faith
without reason and vice versa. We can not just have one and lack the other.
This has to be very clear in our heads. We should always try to condition
ourselves in the atmosphere of God's presence. We should gear ourselves toward
that direction so that we place ourselves within His reach, it's not that God
can not reach us but we hinder God from reaching out to us. When we do not
respond to His call and shut off our ears although we are within hearing range,
we fail to get the message. Which reminds me of Bernadette's ear, when we went
to her doctor she underwent a procedure (ear lavage) in order to unclog her
left ear but prior to that she was already instilling ear meds for 4 days. The
nurse explained to her that it can be painful and can cause her to feel dizzy
and asked her if she still wants it done and she agreed. Sometimes we have to
resort to very uncomfortable measures in order to be cured in the same way we
should maintain such condition spiritually so that we can always keep our ears
open to God's word. Wherever God is, there is always peace and prosperity. It
is only natural that we have longings and desires because God Himself planted
it in our hearts. We all long for the good things in life and God Himself can
provide for all these things. It is just sad that we reach out for other things
that we thought are good for us. We do not realize that we have to seek first
the Kingdom of God
Psalms 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14
R: Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your
salvation.
...9 [10] Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear
him, glory dwelling in our land...The LORD himself will give his benefits; our
land shall yield its increase.
Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss.
11 [12] Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from
heaven. (R) 12 [13] The LORD himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield
its increase. 13 [14] Justice shall walk before him, and salvation, along the
way of his steps.
I was again reminded of the
# 7 based on my personal experience last Oct 7, '07 which I have shared
several times already in the past and further confirmed in the 2nd reading
today as stated in this commentary from Companion which states, "Verse 7
of today’s reading is a critical one for understanding the truth of the Gospel.
It tells us that Jesus redeemed us through the shedding of His blood. This may
sound a little gory, but it is the truth, and it draws on a centuries-old
understanding of the means by which sins have been forgiven — namely through
the offering of the blood of animals (their life essence) to God in
substitution for our own that we have forfeited through sin."
The connections and relatedness of things in the readings
have always inspired me ever since. It comes in a variety of ways. It could be
in words, names, people, places, circumstances and numbers. These things could
take on different meanings to different people. Personally speaking it has developed
in me an attachment to particular bible passages based on my very own
experiences. Putting aside my personal views, today’s 2nd reading is not just about me
but all. We should take its meaning personally, should never be taken for
granted, be very obvious and never mean any thing less than God's great love
since it is the bloody exchange of Jesus life for our sake. In the beginning
God created everything to be in harmony, man, the land and all creatures. But
man sinned leading to a rupture with God, one’s self and others. We have to go
back to where God had intended it to be. If everything happened by chance there
is a tendency for us to wane in our resolution and our responsibility is deemphasized.
The understanding that a Creator made the world leads to a fundamental
responsibility to it. When we watch these movies about the end of the world it
gives the impression that our world exists by random and we look upon the
universe as a product of chance. Everything that exists comes through Jesus.
Everything in the universe came through Christ. He is the foundation of all
reality. Creation is existent and made through and for Him. It does not exist
by chance and is ruled by God and His plan. Amen. Hallelujah!
Ephesians 1:3-14
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he
chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without
blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through
Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory
of his grace that he granted us in the beloved… 7 In him we have redemption by
his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his
grace 8 that he lavished upon us.
This gospel reading commentary by Fr. Joel Jason in Sabbath
specifically mentioned verse 7 which reminds me of a prophecy I received in
Oct. 7, '07 which holds a very significant meaning for me based on the life
changing choices and decisions I've made on that date thus I find inspiration
in reading it. Here is the article from the Sabbath journal.
"There are people who we are simply afraid of. Before
them, we are always careful, calculating, lest we enkindle their wrath. We look
at them as powerful. Today, Jesus commissions His disciples. They are to do
wonders signifying that the Kingdom
of God
In Didache entitled,
"Watch my back" by Ariel Driz, he also quoted the bible passage which
is verse 7 of Mark 6
WATCH my BACK!
He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two
and gave them authority over unclean spirits. – Mark 6:7
Ray Keller once asked a man who just completed his second
tour of duty from the Iraq
war, “What was the most important thing you learned from the war?”
The soldier’s response was quick. “Well, Mr. Keller, I
learned that it is better to be in a team than to be alone.”
The man explained that while in Iraq , they would walk around and
survey the area. They would have a certain formation such that he would focus
on looking ahead while his partner would watch his back. He in turn would watch
the back of the one in front of him. His commander explained to him that loners
have no place in the war. He would need to work well in a team to survive.
While we are encouraged to spend time being alone with God,
we need the help of partners who would “watch our backs” — whether they be your
spouse, your cell group mates, your mentor, your godly friend…. We need them if
we are to win our daily battles.
It would be good to recognize your teammates and partners and
thank God for them! Ariel Driz
All of these remind me too of the time when I was watching
this TFC program Bet on your baby. Prior to the contestant’s decision to smash
the piggy bank labeled #7 I already chose it and to my surprise it did contain
the grand prize and was declared the 1st millionaire winner of the
said game show. What I am trying to emphasize here is the fact that God is ever
present in all things be it big or small. God is always with us. He'll never
leave us and we should forever stay connected to Him for as long we live. If
God is with us then who could be against us. We have to really convince
ourselves of this truth and be confident of the fact that wherever He leads and
brings us, He will never forsake nor abandon us and will surely see us through
it all. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 6:7-13
7 Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave
them authority over unclean spirits. 8 He instructed them to take nothing for
the journey but a walking stick — no food, no sack, no money in their belts. 9
They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. 10 He said to them,
“Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. 11 Whatever
place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off
your feet in testimony against them.”...
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