So, each one is called
to share experiences, feelings,
advices, etc. with others. This isn’t just the work of the Pope or priests and
sisters and religious brothers. No, it is the work of all the baptized. It was the work of Amos, the prophet about whom
we just heard in the first reading[2].
Amos was a
normal, everyday working man. He lived just south of the border between the
Kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The people there were soft selling their faith
and Amos told them to change their lives and be committed to the Lord, then the
priest Amaziah told Amos to stop confronting the people and go back to Judah
and Amos responded using a phrase that we have to memorize perfectly and use in
our daily lives: I cannot refuse to
proclaim the Lord.
My brother, my
sister we have to proclaim the word, in
season and out of season as St. Paul says[3]; we
have to proclaim the truth we experience within us whether it is a time others
want to hear it or not. While He was still with us on earth, before his
passion, death and resurrection, Jesus sent his disciples to proclaim the
Kingdom of Heaven. These disciples were ordinary, everyday men entrusted with
an extraordinary task. Jesus told them that the mission was urgent. They
shouldn’t be bogged down with impediments of luggage (By the way the Latin word
for luggage is in fact impedimentum), but they should wear
sandals because they had a lot of ground to cover. They needed to proclaim to
all. Some would listen, and others would reject them, but the message had to be
proclaimed to as many people as possible.
It is the same
for all of us: we need to bring the message, the experience, and the very
presence of Jesus Christ to the world. Some will listen to you some not, anyway
proclaim the message, anyway give testimony, anyway show to all those around
you why you are so happy and so proud of your Catholic faith.
Few days ago one
of the most one of the bravest men of this blessed country, Archbishop Charles Chaput
said something that I would like to share with you this evening [morning]: «We
live in a time that calls for sentinels and public witness. Every Christian in
every era faces the same task. But you and I are responsible for this moment.
Today. Now. We need to “speak out,” not only for religious liberty and the
ideals of the nation we love, but for the sacredness of life and the dignity of
the human person – in other words, for the truth of what it means to be made in
the image and likeness of God.
We need to be
witnesses of that truth not only in word, but also in deed. In the end, we’re
missionaries of Jesus Christ, or we’re nothing at all. And we can’t share with
others what we don’t live faithfully and joyfully ourselves.
When we leave
this Mass today, we need to render unto Caesar those things that bear his
image. But we need to render ourselves unto God — generously, zealously,
holding nothing back. To the extent we let God transform us into his own image;
we will – by the example of our lives – fulfill our duty as citizens of the
United States, but much more importantly, as disciples of Jesus Christ»[4].
And yes, there
will be people who will reject the message and even criticize you; you may
indeed have to move on and proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ to others. Be
patient. Joy, happiness and the Presence of the Lord are contagious, but sometimes
it takes time for the cure to Life to overwhelm a person.
We pray today
for the courage to hold on tight and the wisdom to find ways to hold out our
hands for others to join us. For the ride, the journey with Christ, is
wonderful ■
[1] 1 Cor 9:16
[2] Sunday 15th July, 2012, 15th
Sunday in Ordinary Time. Readings: Amos 7:12–15. Lord, show us your mercy and love,
and grant us your salvation—Ps 84(85):9–14. Ephesians 1:3–14. Mark 6:7–13 [St
Bonaventure]
[3] 2 Tim 4:2
[4] Archbishop Charles Chaput,
homily closing the Fortnight for Freedom, 4 July 2012.
