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Word To Life
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Sunday Scripture Readings, July 12, 2009
By Jeff Hedglen
Catholic News Service
July 12, Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Cycle B Readings:
1) Amos 7:12-15
Psalm 85:9-14
2) Ephesians 1:3-14
Gospel: Mark 6:7-13
I recently started a new quest. It is a rather simple thing: I want to say "hi" to people when we pass each other on the sidewalk or grocery story aisle. I'm tired of walking by people and neither one of us acknowledging the other's existence.
So far it has not gone well. Most of the time people either give me a strange look or ignore me completely. Every once in awhile someone will look at me, smile and say "hello" back to me. I don't know why this is such a hard thing for people to do, but I feel compelled to continue this mission.
My little "say hi" campaign is nothing compared to the quests we hear about in this Sunday's readings, though the results are similar. Amos is called to be a prophet for the Lord. But not only is he not welcomed by the people to whom he gives God's word, he is asked to leave. He complains, "I was no prophet, ... I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores," as if to say, "I never asked for this job, I liked my old job; no one ever ridiculed me there."
In the Gospel, Jesus sends the Twelve Apostles out, two by two, on a missionary journey. They are to preach repentance, heal the sick and drive out demons. Jesus must have anticipated that they would not always be welcomed, so he gives them this instruction: "Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them."
Following the Lord and bringing his message of love to the world is seldom easy. Like Amos and the apostles, we will not always be welcomed with open arms. But our motivation does not have to come from people responding to our mission. St. Paul reminds us that we who hope in Christ, "exist for the praise of his glory." Bringing glory to God is success enough. We accomplish this when we spread the love God has given us with all we meet, even if it is just in passing.
QUESTIONS:
What are some ways you try to share the love of God with others? Have you ever been rejected when trying to live your faith?
SCRIPTURE TO BE ILLUSTRATED:
"Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two" (Mark 6:7).
END
Copyright © 2009 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS Word To Life column may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service.
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