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Reflections
for Sunday, July 15, 2012
This Sunday the Lord tells us that if we choose to follow His word, we will
suffer and be rejected. This should not surprise us because Jesus Himself,
in faithfulness to the Father, suffered for doing the Father's will.
Jesus is clear when He tells His own followers: you will be rejected by
others. Be prepared and just keep on going.
The Prophet Amos tells us part of his story in the first reading today.
It is basically the same story for any prophet or for anyone who wants
seriously to follow the Lord. God will ask us to do things that we would
rather not do. God will ask us to speak for Him. God will ask us to
testify to others.
All is not entirely dismal in following the Lord. Jesus recognizes that
some people will accept the Word of God. We need not be discouraged.
Truly it is God's work and we are only his instruments. We must be
prepared to suffer but we are also encouraged because God will do what He
wants with our efforts.
The Letter to the Ephesians, the second reading today, repeats all of
this. God has chosen us in Christ Jesus. In the selection for today there
is no focus on suffering, only on being chosen by God and called to share
in Christ Jesus.
For us, personally, it is a question of recognizing that we are called.
We are called by God Himself, not just by our own decisions. We are called
to walk with the Lord and to seek His will. We are called to understand
something of the divine mystery of salvation and to share that with others.
Yes, of course, we will suffer a bit in the process. That suffering is
nothing compared to the joy that will be ours.
Let us pray today for this recognition of our calling. Let us pray for
one another. May our Father open our hearts and our minds so that we can
freely choose to follow His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Readings of the day:
First Reading: Amos 7.12-15
Second Reading: Ephesians 1.3-14
Gospel: Mark 6.7-13
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Reflections are available for the following Sundays:
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