Prophetic Opposition (15th Sunday in Ordinary Time)e

Click here for this Sunday’s Readings

The book of Amos presents the prophecies of a man who was called by God to declare God’s judgments on the northern kingdom of Israel for their many sins. We can date the events of the book to around 762 B.C., based on a reference to an earthquake mentioned in Amos 1:1, as well as the mention of kings Uzziah and Jeroboam II. After a brief indictment of the surrounding nations in the first two chapters, most of the rest of the book details their offenses against the Law, and how their kingdom was about to come to an end because of them, an end which is recorded in 2 Kings 17.

Israel’s king and priestly class did not take kindly to Amos’ warnings. In our reading, we see the priest Amaziah telling Amos to cease declaring judgments on Israel and king Jeroboam II. Amos’ reply shows that he is no mere prophet for hire, but was appointed directly by God. As such, he is obligated to convey God’s message, and to attempt to silence him is to go against God Himself.

As punishment to Amaziah for his opposition, he declares the following judgment against him:

“Now therefore hear the word of the Lord.

You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel,

and do not preach against the house of Isaac.’

Therefore thus says the Lord:

‘Your wife shall become a prostitute in the city,

and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword,

and your land shall be parceled out by line;

you yourself shall die in an unclean land,

and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land.’” (Amos 7:16-17)

This reading teaches us that those who speak God’s truth to a society that refuses to heed it can expect opposition. This has been true of every age, which is why Jesus said “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household” (Mark 6:4). Similarly, Christians who speak God’s truth today can expect similar opposition. We will be called judgmental or bigoted for standing for the truth. However, we should follow the example set by Amos, and not cease to speak God’s word under pressure, but continue to stand for what is right.

J. Luis Dizon