15th Sunday in Ordinary Time July 14, 2024

Readings: Amos 7:12-15, Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6:7-13

In our first reading, God chose a poor farmer Amos to prophesy in Israel’s northern kingdom. God had a purpose for this. He knew there were prophets there. God chose Amos. Despite the opposition and challenges he faced from the “professional and paid prophets,” he fulfilled God’s purpose for choosing him.  He was not tainted by the corruption and materialism of his time.

In our second reading, Paul not only reminds us that God chose us in Christ. He equally reminds us of the reason He chose us: “To be holy, and spotless, and to live through love in his presence.  So, as no disciple lives for himself or herself alone, the secondary goal of God’s choice of us is to reach out to others. That is, to develop a missionary spirit. Together, these are the ultimate purpose of God for choosing us.

Repeatedly in Mark’s gospel does Jesus broaden his disciples’ minds to see God where they’re not expecting to encounter him. Do we need to learn from this? Lots of people today keep some parts of their lives locked up and hidden. Occasionally, the bolts are unlocked in an effort to let in the light. When this happens and we have been the one invited in we may need, metaphorically speaking, to remove our sandals. As disciples we must be willing not to be judges but those who point to just where in the Church and beyond the Risen Lord our Saviour still gives forgiveness, banishes evil and offers healing (Mk 6:13).

My brothers and sisters, the gospel this Sunday calls us to imitate the Twelve. We shouldn’t dwell unnecessarily on the things Jesus says his disciples will not need. We should focus on why Jesus sends us out to continue the work they began. You know as well as I there is still an urgency to call people back to God or in many cases these days to introduce them to a loving and forgiving God. And I think we often need these days to acknowledge when sacred encounters take place and where those encounters can continue. Perhaps by remembering the disciples were to wear sandals we can more easily associate ourselves with our call to continue their work and be the missionaries for today. Sandals may have fallen out of fashion and men who wear them may get what they deserve but I wonder in that small detail from today’s gospel is the Lord calling us to discover something new?

Fr, Terry