Do you sometimes stop and notice how we treat foreigners? Someone who is not like us? The ‘other’? Then you will understand immediately what is happening to the prophet Amos, according to the first reading today.
He is a native from the southern kingdom of Judah. God, who seems ever ready to pull a surprise on all involved, whether back in the 8th century before Christ or today, called Amos to go prophesy in the northern kingdom of Israel. These two kingdoms, a product of Solomon’s heritage, which saw his father David’s kingdom divided, did not see eye to eye at all. In the first century Palestine in which the gospels are set, we get a good idea of the animosity between the Judeans and the Samaritans, the southerners and the northerners. Just think of Jesus and the woman at the well, or the attitude of Jesus’ closest followers who wanted to call down thunder to destroy the Samaritan town that did not welcome them, or the story of the Good Samaritan. The two did not mix. God is not bothered, he sends Amos up north. Poor Amos gets booted out. No surprises there.
We do not like to hear anything from the ‘other’ about ourselves, unless he comes with gifts and gilded words, singing our praises. If not, and prophets never do, he will see, we will deal with him. Sadly, that is the way of all prophets. No red carpet reception for them.
For exactly this kind of reception of a prophet, Jesus prepared the Twelve in the gospel of today. There will be places that do not welcome them and people who refuse to listen to them. Jesus is not bothered. He sends them anyway.
Why? Because the stakes are high. In other words, what God has prepared for people is way beyond their present discomfort or stubborn refusal to change for the better. God has blessed us with all, not some, the spiritual blessings of heaven in Christ, according to the second reading of today. He chose us before time began, and that is a long time ago, to be holy and spotless, even adopting us so that we could be the same like Christ. His own children.
All of that is too precious not to bring to fulfilment. It is too rich not to have. God wants us to have it, for as sure as the rain comes down from heaven and water the earth for food to grow, the word that he sends out will come to pass. That is why a prophet can never say no, no matter how busy he or she is.
Are you up for it?