Sunday Reflections September 23rd, 2007
Ghanaian Catholic Community
At Christ The King Church
Sunday Mass at 5PM
141 Marcy Place | Bronx, NY 10452 |Tel: 718 538 5546

Dear Brothers and sisters,

Happy Sunday! Today is the 25th Sunday of the Ordinary time of the year. Have you started thinking
about Christmas? Well, for some of us everyday counts toward that day of golden bells and Hosanna.
Twelve Sundays to go.

Today's readings; Amos 8:4-7; 1 Timothy 2;1-8; and Luke 16: 1-13

From the first reading the Prophet Amos warns those who trample upon the poor and needy of the land.
He says; "The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Never will I forget a thing they have done" (Amos
8:7) Wooh! I fear and hate to think that by my actions, by commission or omission, I could be counted
among those who trample upon the poor and needy. The only way to understand this story from the
Prophet Amos is to go to Amos and ask him what he meant or to whom does he address this message.


We could ask Amos many questions but let us just ask him where he comes from and who send him, and if
this message is also meant for us. Because he seems to have messages for all the nations; Syria, Philistia,
Phoenicia, Edom, Ammon, Judah, Israel, Samaria, etc (See Amos Chap.1-3)

Now Amos who are you and where do you come from?

"I am Amos and I raised sheep near the town of Tekoa" (1:1).

So you are a shepherd? and what are you doing as a prophet?

"Two years before the earthquake,

the Lord gave me several messages about Israel".(1:1)

But you are from Judah why don't you go and preach to your own people back in Judah?

Amos wasn't a professional prophet and had never been trained to be prophet (7:14). But when the Lord
gave him messages for the people of the northern kingdom, Israel, Amos left his hometown of Tekoa in
Judah and went to preach in the town of Bethel of Israel, the religious centre where the people went to
offer their sacrifices and worship after the destruction of the temple.


His message was simple, not any long theological thesis, but the condemnation of the people Israel
especially the rich who lived in luxury, fed sumptuously and trampled the rights of the poor. The truth of
the matter is, all their luxury came from the exploitation of the poor. It is in that vain that today's first
reading was uttered. Listen to what the rich said; "When will the new moon be over that we sell our grain,
and the sabbath, that we may display the wheat? We will diminish the ephah, add to the shekel, and fix our
scales for cheating!...(8:4-7)


There is so much we can reflect about this story, but I leave the rest to you to be reflecting individually or
with the family. But let me ask you this question, does this story resonate with you? with someone you
know? or a setting? The first thing that comes to my mind is Makola Market. I think the tomato, gari and
rices sellers in Makola had their training in Israel. How to fix their "aloka" and scales for cheating.


But that is not all of the story. Let us hear what the Osofo Amaziah has to say to the King; "Amos is
plotting against you in the very heart of Israel..." (7:10) and to Amos; "Take your visions and get out! Go
back to Judah and earn your living there as a prophet. Do not do any preaching in Bethel".(7:12) In the face
of disaster you would have expected the Priest Amaziah to support Amos in his mission. But, No! His job
is threatened. His interest or business is at stake. Business before God. Amos tells him what God has for
him.


This above story seems to tie in very well with the Gospel reading for today; "No servant can serve two
masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despite the other. You cannot
serve both God and mammon" (Lk.16:13)


Wooh! that is pretty strong. Do you feel indicted? What do you think is/are the connections between the
two readings? What are the parallel lines?


God Bless you