Yesterday marked the 41st anniversary of the death of Bishop Oscar Romero who was murdered as he celebrated Mass. View this powerful music video produced by The Martyrs Project at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21CN815v2G0&feature=youtu.be
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Thursday, March 25, 2021
The Prophet Amos
Vision of the Altar
“Amos’ final vision (9:1-4) does not begin with the same formula [as the other visions] and, this time, does not involve objects or animals. Instead, he sees God, who stands beside an altar. The mention of capitals and thresholds suggests a real temple . . . God begins by acting in the temple; both the people and structure itself will fall, and although readers have been made aware that no one will escape, God’s determination to root out every last person is highlighted here”. (Mays 652)
Climbing to the heavens, hiding in the bottom of the sea, ascending to the summit of Carmel, living in captivity. It does not matter where the Ethiopians, Philistines, Arameans, Israelites or any of us hides, all the peoples of the world are known to God. Why does Amos tell us this? What does he expect from us? How might we use his words, how might we interpret these woes, what are we to make of his visions?
Rather than seeing this imagery as a dualistic, black-or-white, either-or world of good people and bad in which some suffer and others are saved, let us consider that each of us is both foolish and faithful. Let us put away our pride and greed and instead focus on living our lives as positive manifestations of God’s hope for us. Let us decide what or how we will amend our habits and customs as we bring the gift of ourselves to the altar. And as our Lenten act of fidelity, let us determine to show our gratitude for the depth and breadth and height of God’s enormous love.
Tomorrow, Messianic Perspective.
Mays, James L., ed. HARPERCOLLINS BIBLE COMMENTARY. New York, New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1988. 652. Print.
For more on the significance of Mount Carmel, visit: http://www.bibleplaces.com/mtcarmel.htm
For more information on the peoples named by Amos, see the following site and visit these links.
Arameans: https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-arameans
Philistines: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/Philistines.html
Ethiopians: https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/ejhist.html
Image from: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2020/06/15/101724-prophet-amos
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