First Reading: Amos 7:12-15; Psalm: 85. R. v. 8; Second Reading: Eph 1:3-14; Gospel: Mk 6:7-13 

AMOS OR AMAZIAH?

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP 

Some years back, a Nigerian award winning writer and public speaker, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in a press interview made a bold statement that the Catholic Church in Nigeria had become too much about money. This bold submission brought her numerous cutting remarks from many catholic priests who told her to face her writing skills and leave the Church alone. But much as she overgeneralised, she is perfectly correct especially as it pertains to preparation for Christian funerals celebrated by some individual priests in some part of the Catholic Church in Nigeria. Although many may not agree, but the aftermath of her fearless utterances rattled a comfortable structure in the Church that has now become less and less emphasised. Sometimes, prophetic utterances can come from the most unlikely messengers.

Something was going wrong that needed to be fixed in the northern kingdom of Israel; and Amaziah the priest of Bethel was passive and playing to the gallery. Amaziah exercised his ministry within the royal sanctuary at Bethel. He was the king’s personal chaplain. Instead of confronting the decay in the royal house and the unjust structures in the land, Amaziah was out to promote royalty to the status quo. Amaziah commercialised his ministry at the expense of his prophetic calling. His was smooth-talking and indulged in making things look nice to his own advantage but to the detriment of God’s people. It was at this time that God called the most unlikely person to go and prophesy to his people Israel that they may repent. This unlikely person was Amos.

Amos was from Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel. Unlike other prophets in the Scriptures, Amos was not a prophet by profession. Amos had two jobs. He was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore tree. It was as though God hijacked Amos while he was busy going about his business. But why would God choose Amos to go and prophesy when Amos is skilled in pasturing animals and dressing sycamore tree? There must be something about the personality of Amos that was fitting to challenge the status quo at that time. Probably, Amos was a rugged and straightforward individual who called sin by its name. A man brave, frank and blunt in manner of speaking is suggestive of a prophetic character. Amos was just pasturing his flock when the Lord called him, “God and prophesy to my people Israel.”

Amos went as the Lord instructed saying; “Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said. Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gates; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.” (Amos 5:14-15). But Amos was opposed.

The greatest challenge of a prophet is not in prophesying but the tenacity and courage to persist in the face of resistance. Sadly, it was Amaziah who was supposed to collaborate with Amos in speaking truth that opposed Amos vocally and vehemently. Amaziah said to Amos: “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there; but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.” But Amos did not budge. Amos was dogged and insistent stating the authenticity of prophecy that he was called by the Lord while he was pasturing his flock. The call of Amos suggests that the Lord can use the most unlikely people to challenge a structure of sin. And when the Lord uses us, we must learn from the prophetic character of Amos not to budge so easily.    

Walter Brueggeman in his book The Prophetic Imagination comments that “the task of prophetic ministry is to nurture, nourish and evoke a consciousness and perception alterative to the consciousness and perception of the dominant culture around us.” By virtue of our baptism we share in the prophetic character of Christ. Our prophetic impulse spikes our awareness at that moment when we begin to feel bothered and unquiet about a culture of sin opposed to the gospel of Christ. The Sprit of God could be awakening in us the drive to raise our prophetic voices to change the consciousness and perception of that comfortable culture of sin. But more often than not, we fail to answer this call.

In our families, we may experience the evil of maltreatment, violence, lies and injustice; but are silenced by filial obedience or the fear factor of parental attack. In our Churches, are there practices that clearly discriminate and oppress the poor? Are there obvious instances of deathly hush on matters of abuse, despotism, manipulation, financial misappropriation or simony? If there are; are we passive to these evils? Remember, prophetic voices are not exclusively reserved for ordained ministers who are also human and prone to error. The Spirit of God blows wherever he wills and can use even the most unlikely person to confront comfortable sinful practices. In our work places, do we denounce or promote theft, bribery, and other fraudulent activities opposed to the faith? Evil thrives when prophetic voices stay quiet.   

In our gospel reading, Jesus sent out his disciples two by two as prophets of truth. This sending out in pairs suggests that the mission of testifying to the truth is a collective ministry. But from the story of Amos, we can see that there are times we may have to stand alone when those called to collaborate with us deviates. Notwithstanding, when Amaziah strayed and opposed Amos; Amos remained faithful. There will come a time when we shall be opposed and face the risk of standing alone. A time when people and the power that be will attempt to hush our prophetic voices. In moments like this, take courage and do not be afraid; trust in the Lord who sent you.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Lord Jesus, grant us the faith and courage to raise our prophetic voices in our world marred by the culture of sin. Amen