I believe this is the only time you get to hear a reading from Amos this liturgical year. We have Amos, a caretaker of sheep and sycamore trees, chosen to be a prophet. The prophets did what no one else dared to do, they spoke truth to power. Prophets are not popular among government leaders who are in power by force and military might instead of by the will of the people. God's laws are enforced by conscience. We worship God not because God is power but because God is truth and love. Prophets risk their lives to speak truth to leaders. 

Sometimes God calls us to do things we'd rather not do. Here we hear the voice of Amos saying, "I'm not a prophet!  I am a shepherd. But God asked me to do this, so here I am. "Where and how are you being called, even though you'd rather not, even though you feel ill-equipped?" 

I can only wonder and imagine what has been going through the minds of Fr. Andy, Fr. Tom, and Fr. Bob who thought they knew what they would be doing for the next year and being asked to take on new responsibilities for the good of the archdiocese as Fr. Scott accepted the leadership role as bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota for the good of the church in the United States-and all of this happening in the last couple of weeks. 

The second reading is from a letter of Paul to the Ephesians. Letters were the most common form of writing in the New Testament and typically begin with an opening greeting followed by a thanksgiving. Ephesians is one of three letters that insert a Jewish feature, the blessing, and that is what we have today. 

This blessing blesses God and the recipients of God's blessing by describing God's universal plan for salvation that has existed from "before the foundation of the world" and is now fulfilled in Christ. In Christ, the recipients of blessing have been chosen and destined for God. They have received spiritual blessing, adoption, redemption, forgiveness, grace, and wisdom and insight into the mystery of God's will. Most importantly, believers have received the Holy Spirit as the promise of their “inheritance toward redemption.”  Receiving the Holy Spirit is the first installment of our inheritance; like receiving a gift from our parents as part of our inheritance before they die.

Those who ascribe to the prosperity Gospel would like to believe  that their material wealth is a sign of their blessedness.  But here, Paul reminds us that this couldn’t be further from the truth.  In fact, there is nothing we can do to earn the title 

of “blessed” in God’s eyes.  We are blessed simply because God has chosen us.  The Beatitudes remind us that the poor, the sad, the lowly are the blessed ones.  Let us be grateful for all of God’s blessings.  God sent out the Apostles two by two.  Missionary journeying is never solitary.  We are not made to share the good  news alone.  The Son of God continues to call Christians to team up with each other in ministry.  Many parishes in the past had two or three priests to share ministry and to challenge and support each other.  Most parishes now have one priest so it is important that they join a priest support group and that they have a spiritual director to guide them on their faith journey.  Having a person who can hold you accountable to your values and principles in challenging moments is important.  Maybe they can inspire you through their example.  It is a blessing for many to have members of the Seven Sisters praying for them—someone each day for every week.

Mark insists that the Twelve travel with just a walking stick/staff (a symbol of power and authority) and sandals.  Matthew and Luke do not permit even that.  There is something good in being able to travel lightly but if you are like me you want to travel with enough so that you don’t have to go shopping for something more.

I still need to go through more of the things I have accumulated and divest myself of much.  My sisters threaten to do that for me but I am resisting.

What companions do you have in your ministry and how do they support you?  For me it’s Priest Support Group—Teams of Our Lady—Friends.

Who was the last person who told you something about yourself that you knew was right but didn’t want to hear?   How did you react?