Thursday, September 24, 2020
![head_29[1]](https://thenoontimes.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/head_291.jpg?w=724&h=264)
Raising Up
I will bring about the restoration of my people Israel; they shall rebuild and inhabit their ruined cities, plant vineyards and drink the wine, set out gardens and eat the fruits. I will plant them upon their own ground; never again shall they be plucked from the land I have given them, say I, the Lord, your God.
Evidence and judgment, words and woes, threats and promises, visions of locusts, fire, the plummet, and the fruit basket, condemnation of priests and leaders, prophecy against greed and corruption, the final vision before the altar and then the winnowing sieve. This prophecy is too much to bear yet just as we are about to put aside forever its dark images and frightening premonition of doom . . . Amos leads us to the place he was always leading us. Amos brings us to the Christ, the Messiah.
God says: You most often find me in the dark valleys of your life for it is the failures, the betrayals, and corruption that bring you swiftly to my side. Just so does my prophet Amos warn you that my little ones must be shepherded. My lambs must be tended, my sheep must be led. Through the suffering, pain and sorrow I am with you. I have created you and you are mine. I have loved you and I will never leave you. I have already rescued you and placed you within the protective walls of my vineyard. You have been planted upon your own ground and you will never again be plucked from the place I have given you. Yours is the place of honor in my own sacred heart. This I have promised. This is the raising up you have been seeking. This is your raising up that is my gift to you this day.
How does the prophet Amos speak to us today? What foreshadowing does he share? What hope does he bring? What is his promise of raising up for you? When we consider our world today, many will say that we need the words of Amos more than ever. When we contemplate our surroundings, many will say that it is time to heed the prophecy that reminds us God is always raising us up.
Use your own commentary or one of the links below to learn a bit more about his prophecy.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/21356/Amos
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/112277/jewish/The-Prophet-Amos.htm
http://thisischurch.com/christian_teaching/sermon/amos.pdf
Images from: http://www.faithvillage.com/article/0531061aff6d4f0c81db56f7d5fc3f35/the_boldness_of_amos and http://www.liquidthinking.org/archive/2005_09_01_archive.htm
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