13th Week in Ordinary Time
FAITH ON TRIAL
Introduction
The priest Amaziah, in the name of the lord king, judges as inopportune the word of God through the prophet Amos. It is not politically relevant.
It was, humanly speaking, a meager consolation for the cripple to hear that his sins were forgiven. But to the believer, sin is the root of human ills; when this root is taken away by forgiveness, the whole person is saved, also in one’s body. In the gospel the scribes call Jesus a blasphemer. The official people of institutionalized religion challenge the true message of God, on account of so-called true religion. Let us pray today that we may recognize the true Spirit of God when here is a message to tell us, even when it is unpleasant.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
often we do not understand
what you ask of us in life.
Give us a trusting faith, we pray you,
that we may keep believing in you
even when we don’t see where you lead us.
Give us the faith of Abraham,
who was willing to sacrifice his son;
give us the faith of the lame man
who found fresh courage
when his sins were forgiven.
Tell us to stand up and walk
with the certainty that you love us
and want to bring us home to you,
who are our God for ever.
Reading 1: Amos 7:10-17
Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent word to Jeroboam,
king of Israel:
“Amos has conspired against you here within Israel;
the country cannot endure all his words.
For this is what Amos says:
Jeroboam shall die by the sword,
and Israel shall surely be exiled from its land.”
To Amos, Amaziah said:
“Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah!
There earn your bread by prophesying,
but never again prophesy in Bethel;
for it is the king’s sanctuary and a royal temple.”
Amos answered Amaziah, “I was no prophet,
nor have I belonged to a company of prophets;
I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores.
The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me,
‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’
Now hear the word of the LORD!”
You say: prophesy not against Israel,
preach not against the house of Isaac.
Now thus says the LORD:
Your wife shall be made a harlot in the city,
and your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword;
Your land shall be divided by measuring line,
and you yourself shall die in an unclean land;
Israel shall be exiled far from its land.
Responsorial Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11
(10cd) The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
Alleluia 2 COR 5:19
Alleluia, alleluia.
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Matthew 9:1-8
After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town.
And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,
“Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.”
At that, some of the scribes said to themselves,
“This man is blaspheming.”
Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said,
“Why do you harbor evil thoughts?
Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?
But that you may know that the Son of Man
has authority on earth to forgive sins”–
he then said to the paralytic,
“Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
He rose and went home.
When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe
and glorified God who had given such authority to men.
Intercessions
– That the Church, aware of its shortcomings, may humbly offer compassion and forgiveness to all who err, and become in our world a sign and instrument of reconciliation, we pray:
– That we may show special love and care for the handicapped, for children who will never be able to play, for those who will never see God’s colorful world, for those who will never hear or sing songs of joy, we pray:
– That our homes may become places of mutual understanding and reconciliation; that the young may learn from their parents and each other to forget injuries and to accept one another in their diversity and individuality, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
through this bread and this wine
you unite us with your Son.
He remained faithful to you
when you demanded of him
an impossible sacrifice.
As we offer this sacrifice of your Son,
help us to learn from him
to say yes to any task or sacrifice
which you demand of us in life.
Give us this faith, this love and loyalty
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
you have strengthened us again
by the presence of Jesus, your Son.
Widen the horizons of our faith
and help us to accept, not only with our minds
but also with our hearts and our whole person,
that you see farther than we,
that your heart is greater than ours,
and that sacrifice may be the toll to pay
for freedom, joy and happiness.
Dispose us to accept this in trust and love
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
With the lame man when he was healed, we praise and thank God who says to us too when we have sinned: “stand up and walk.” May God keep you walking and may he bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Commentary
Test of Discipleship
Humanly speaking, it is far easier to say, “get lost” than say “I forgive you” to our enemies. If forgiving came that easily, how different our world would have been, and how free of wars and weapons! But it is also evident that for Jesus, forgiveness came so easy that often the words of forgiveness were what flowed from him even at the hardest of times, as on the cross. Thankfully, it is this gift of the “ease of forgiving” that Jesus has offered to every follower as grace and command. The mission entrusted to us is to “preach repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations” (cf. Lk 24:47). We honor the first martyrs of the Church of Rome: what stands out for Christian martyrs, starting from St. Stephen, is the ease with which they forgive the offenders. Perhaps this is the true test of our Christian discipleship: the ease with which we can forgive those who offend us.
Coffee With God: Have Courage my child, your sins are forgiven!