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July 13, 2008 - 9th Sunday after Pentecost
- For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel:
- Seek me and live;
- The one who made the Pleiades and Orion,
- and turns deep darkness into the morning,
- and darkens the day into night,
- who calls for the waters of the sea,
- and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the Lord is his name,
- Seek good and not evil,
- that you may live;
- and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you,
- just as you have said.
- Hate evil and love good,
- and establish justice in the gate;
- it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts,
- will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
- But let justice roll down like waters,
- and righteousness like an everflowing stream.
-- Amos 5:4,8,14-15,24
The role of a prophet is not easy as they are called to speak over the din of all
that calls us away from God. The people of Amos' day were called away from God as they
were tempted to make profits at the expense of others and live for themselves. On the
outside life seemed to be pretty good, but God knew the contents of their hearts.
Amos called them back to their true identity as children of God who were created to seek
and love good, not evil. Amos reminded them that God created us to be in relationship with
one another and love one another - not use each other for personal gain.
Hear the timeless words of the prophet today, and remember who you are. You are created
to seek and participate in the good that gives life, not the evil that tears down.
We pray: Almighty God, we thank you for planting in us the seed of your word.
By your Holy Spirit help us to receive it with joy, live according to it, and grow in faith
and hope and love, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen
Lessons for the 9th Sunday after Pentecost:
- Amos 5:4-24
- Amos 6:1a, 4-7
- Amos 9:11-15
Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible,
copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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