{"id":2175,"date":"2024-07-13T08:48:43","date_gmt":"2024-07-13T13:48:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/?page_id=2175"},"modified":"2025-04-04T10:22:19","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T14:22:19","slug":"the-fifteenth-sunday-in-ordinary-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/index.php\/2024\/07\/13\/the-fifteenth-sunday-in-ordinary-time\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2014The Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"2175\" class=\"elementor elementor-2175\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b8d22d7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"61518\" data-id=\"b8d22d7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-99f195b\" data-eae-slider=\"21191\" data-id=\"99f195b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c77524 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7c77524\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-29335d4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"92319\" data-id=\"29335d4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_bottom&quot;:&quot;book&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-bottom\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-negative=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 100\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M194,99c186.7,0.7,305-78.3,306-97.2c1,18.9,119.3,97.9,306,97.2c114.3-0.3,194,0.3,194,0.3s0-91.7,0-100c0,0,0,0,0-0 L0,0v99.3C0,99.3,79.7,98.7,194,99z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2633fe8\" data-eae-slider=\"31011\" data-id=\"2633fe8\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-99c059b elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"99c059b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac32618 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ac32618\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reading I<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4ce29ca elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4ce29ca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/amos\/7?12\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Amos 7:12-15<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>Amaziah, priest of Bethel, said to Amos, \u201cOff with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah! There earn your bread by prophesying, but never again prophesy in Bethel; for it is the king\u2019s sanctuary and a royal temple.\u201d Amos answered Amaziah, \u201cI was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company of prophets; I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores. The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me, Go, prophesy to my people Israel.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-568d889 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"568d889\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Responsorial Psalm<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-352e7ef elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"352e7ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/psalms\/85?9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Psalm 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>R. (8) Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation. I will hear what God proclaims; the LORD \u2014for he proclaims peace. Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land. R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.<br \/>Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven. R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.<br \/>The LORD himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase. Justice shall walk before him, and prepare the way of his steps. R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0ffa7f7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0ffa7f7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reading II<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-cc15548 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"32268\" data-id=\"cc15548\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-060206b\" data-eae-slider=\"43860\" data-id=\"060206b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5dc261d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5dc261d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/ephesians\/1?3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Ephesians 1:3-14<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.<br \/>In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ. In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God\u2019s possession, to the praise of his glory.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-87353ac elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"87353ac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Alleluia<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-ff46c7f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"50156\" data-id=\"ff46c7f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-8b74efa\" data-eae-slider=\"20311\" data-id=\"8b74efa\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c71559 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3c71559\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/ephesians\/1?17\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>CF. Epeshians 1:17-18<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/><em><strong>R. Alleluia, alleluia<\/strong><\/em><br \/>May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to our call.<br \/><em><strong>R. Alleluia, alleluia<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-055ecc5\" data-eae-slider=\"6456\" data-id=\"055ecc5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc12a73 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cc12a73\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Gospel<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e16f610 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e16f610\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/mark\/6?7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Mark 6:7-13<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick\u2014 no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them, \u201cWherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.\u201d So they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7016bb1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7016bb1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Exegesis<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e224d3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5e224d3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/amos\/7?12\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Amos 7:12-15<\/strong><\/a><\/span><br \/>The Prophet Amos introduces himself in the first paragraph. He is from the town of Tekoa which was in the territory of Judah in the north on the border with Israel, the Northern Kingdom. He was active during the reign of King Uzziah of Judah (783-742) and King Jeroboam of Israel (786-746). This was a time between the \u201cstorms\u201d of the Assyrian domination and the Babylonian Ex-ile. It was a time of great material prosperity for both Israel and Judah. It was a time of a great divide, a growing separation between the wealthy and the poor. Amos warned against the mis-treatment of one\u2019s neighbor. Cultic worship was alive and well during this period, but Amos pro-claimed that Yahweh was deeply concerned that the people were not practicing their religion and loving their neighbor as they were called to do. The people in turn rejected the words of the Prophet and in doing so were rejecting Yahweh (2:12; 7:12-13). Amos warned that rejecting the word of Yahweh was in fact rejecting His guiding word (8:11-12).<br \/>Immediately prior to our scripture passage today Amos has prophesied, \u201cJeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be exiled from its land.\u201d (Am 7:11). Amaziah was a priest of Bethel of Israel and reported this to King Jeroboam and then turned on Amos. Amos was a for-eigner from Judah and Amaziah and Jeroboam now seek to oust the messenger.<br \/>In our pericope Amos is stating that he is not a traditional prophet following a lineage of prophets, but an ordinary shepherd chosen by God to share His message. His message was not a popular one. In fact, Amos is one of the prophets with the most negative and dire message. He warned of the wrath of God that would follow the moral degradation and infidelity that was rampant. De-spite rejection Amos remained faithful to Yahweh, to his calling and to fulfilling the mission that was entrusted to him by Yahweh.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-acdbdbf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"acdbdbf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/psalms\/85?9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Psalm 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14<\/strong><\/a><\/span><br \/>Psalm 85 is entitled Prayer for the Restoration of God\u2019s Favor. It can be broken down into three sections: Praise of Yahweh for past blessings, petitions for salvation, and the promise of God\u2019s favor. Our pericope consists of the promise of the restored favor of God.<br \/>Whereas the people often, as Amos laments, refuse to listen to the Word of God, the psalmist pro-claims, \u201cI will hear what the Lord God speaks; He speaks of peace for His people and His faith-ful.\u201d His people and His faithful imply a people now in right relationship with God and each oth-er. Peace, or shalom, in the Hebrew\/Aramaic describes this harmony with God and His creation. Salvation is for those who are loyal to God and to His commandments.<br \/>Merciful love and faithfulness unite in God. Merciful love (hesed) and faithfulness (emet) meet in God because God is the source of both. John reveals to us that God is Love (hesed Hb, agape Gk) and that God is Truth (emet Hb, alethia Gk). Hesed speaks of a graciousness, kindness, loy-alty, faithfulness, and infinite Love. It also implies a joint obligation and an inherent relationship. Emet describes firmness, immutability, trustworthiness, constancy, dependability, ultimate reality, and Truth. Together they describe God\u2019s steadfast unchanging love.<br \/>The covenantal love and faithfulness described above implies relationship and mutual obligations. Therefore, justice is also necessary. To be in this right relationship with God and creation re-quires free choice. Free choice requires justice. Justice looks down from heaven.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e6f3db elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6e6f3db\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/ephesians\/1?3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Ephesians 1:3-14<\/strong><\/span><\/a><br \/>The Book of Wisdom proclaims that \u201cGod fashioned all things that they might have being.\u201d (Wis 1:14). The Scripture then describes the wicked or those who lack wisdom as those who believe that life is a result of random chance, i.e., \u201cFor we were born by mere chance, and hereafter we shall be as though we had never been.\u201d (Wis 2:2).<br \/>God assures us in Ephesians that He is the artisan of our being, and we are the result of His loving choice. God chose each one of us in Christ before the foundation of the world. Au-thentic love by its very nature is self-giving, it must be shared. It is God who makes that choice to share His life with each one of us. You are here because God wills it so.<br \/>Our salvation is also God\u2019s choice. He chose to send His only Son into our world to redeem us. This also is a part of God\u2019s perfect plan from the foundation of the world. The Messiah is not a divine contingency plan. As a loving parent knows that a child will make mistakes, God knew from the beginning of time that we would fall from His love. When the time was right, He planned to send His only Son into our world to redeem us, to deliver His love to us in a personal way. From the Cross, God is drawing all of creation to Himself. This is God\u2019s plan, God\u2019s choice.<br \/>God also choses to give His Spirit to us. The same Spirit that He breathed into us in creation is continually given to us. This is God\u2019s choice.<br \/>Our choice to accept God\u2019s gifts is called faith or belief. Life and death lie before us. This is our choice.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6aab35f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6aab35f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bible.usccb.org\/bible\/mark\/6?7\">Mark 6:7-13<\/a><br \/>Jesus has just been rejected in His hometown synagogue in Nazareth (last Sunday\u2019s Gospel), and He was amazed at their lack of faith. Now He is moving on to surrounding towns and villages and He is sending His disciples ahead of Him two by two. He first calls or sum-mons His disciples. He is choosing them and commissioning them for the task at hand, to preach, teach, drive out demons, and heal the sick. They are to begin as He did, i.e., preach-ing repentance, which is turning back to and reconnecting with God.<br \/>That first Easter Sunday evening the Risen Lord again called and sent His apostles. After breathing the Holy Spirit upon them He said, \u201cAs the Father has sent Me so I send you.\u201d In the same vein as that night the one who has been sent is now sending. The Greek word for send is apostello from which the English word apostle is derived. Apostello has a connota-tion of being sent as a dispatch or for a specific purpose, to accomplish the will of the sender.<br \/>The sender passes on His authority to those who are sent. The word for authority in the origi-nal Greek is exousia. This is a general word for \u201cpower\u201d or \u201cauthority\u201d and is often used for human authority (e.g., Matt 8:9). It is used to refer to supernatural forces in several ways. It is used in the constructions \u201cpower (exousia) of darkness\u201d (Luke 22:53; Col 1:13) and \u201cpower (exousia) of Satan\u201d (Acts 26:18), but these refer to power as an abstract quality, not to supernatural beings. However, in several passages (1 Cor 15:24; Eph 1:21; 6:12; Col 2:15; 1 Pet 3:22) \u201cauthorities\u201d (exousia) refers in a generic way to supernatural beings, which Christ has overcome and against which Christians must struggle. The power that the apos-tles received to drive out demons and heal the sick comes from Jesus and is therefore divine authority. The staff or the walking stick is also a symbol of God\u2019s power in Sacred Scrip-ture.<br \/>The story is one of hospitality and lack of hospitality, and of acceptance and rejection. The calling and the mission are to bring the Good News into the world. Acceptance or rejection remain the free choice of those who hear.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-33fbe9c elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"33fbe9c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-56b6916 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"56b6916\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><em>1. A. McGuire-Moushon, \u201cDivine Beings,\u201d ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f41bf79 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f41bf79\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Reflection<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d266f89 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d266f89\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This weekend\u2019s readings remind us that we are all chosen by God. None of us chose to be born into this world, but here we are. I did not choose my parents or my family, but there they were. I did not wake up one day and say, \u201cI want to be a priest.\u201d Yet here I am. I know that God loved each one of us into existence. I know that God wants to share His love and His life with each one of us. I know that God does not want a world without each of us. And I know God has a plan for each one of us. I discovered one day that God was choosing me to serve His people in the role of a priest in the Church that He founded through His only begotten Son, some 2,000 years ago. Hearing that call from God will always remain the most humbling experience of my life.<br \/>In today\u2019s first reading Amos says, \u201cI was no prophet\u2026 I was a shepherd\u2026 and the Lord said to me, Go prophesy to my people Israel.\u201d Amos was called and sent by God. Our sec-ond reading today from the Letter to the Ephesians assures us that God chose each one of us for Himself, before the foundation of the world. Think about that for a second. Before God created the universe God had already chosen us. Now, God is calling us to himself. In and through Christ, God is drawing us and all of creation to Himself. In our Gospel today Jesus is calling and sending His apostles to go out and to proclaim the Good News.<br \/>Now God is calling and sending each one of us to go out and proclaim the Good News. It does not mean that He is calling us to leave everything behind and go to some distant mis-sionary land, although He may be; God is calling each one of us to \u201cbloom where we are planted.\u201d He is calling us to live our faith more intentionally in our families, our parishes and in our communities. We need to be that guiding light more than ever before in a world that is growing darker.<br \/>Jesus is the Light of the World. Christ\u2019s powerful abiding presence within and among us enlightens us and makes us a joyful and vibrant people of faith. All the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit are evident in the life of a vibrant Christian fully alive in Christ. The fire of the Holy Spirit inspires, and the light of Jesus leads and guides a Spirit filled person. The love, the joy, and the peace that Jesus gives must become visible in us to enlighten those around us. Jesus wants to draw others into the light of His Love through us.<br \/>Someone once gave me a t-shirt that says, \u201cCatholicism is not a spectator sport.\u201d Now it is time for all of us to move from the bleachers to the playing field. It is time for all of us to discern what God is calling us to do for His Kingdom. I leave you with the words of Jesus to each of us at the Last Supper, \u201cIt was not you who chose Me, but I who chose you, to go and bear fruit that will last.\u201d Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of us Your faithful and enkin-dle in us the fire of Your love. Amen.<\/p><p>Yours in Christ and the Holy Spirit,<\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-588 aligncenter\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"77\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png 300w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-1024x262.png 1024w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-768x196.png 768w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature.png 1401w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34bae4f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"34bae4f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Personal Witness<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aa924a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"aa924a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>My maternal grandparents owned a small dairy farm in an extremely remote area of the county. The farm is situated on a beautiful property with rolling hills and has two separate rivers running through it. One river forms the northern boundary, and the second river bor-ders the eastern. The two-story farmhouse and the barn were both built by my grandfather. The farmhouse and the barn were constructed about 300 yards apart positioned on the high-est hill on the property and the highest elevation in the county. On this small subsistence farm my mother and her nine brothers were raised.<br \/>As a child I have many fond memories of life on the farm. My grandmother cooked on a wood stove and the kitchen was always filled with the aroma of fresh baked bread and other delights. The home was full of love and of faith. I enjoyed spending time on the farm with my grandparents. I worked on the farm and neighboring farms through my teenage years.<br \/>One of my earliest memories on the farm took place when I was seven years old. I was helping grandpa with the milking. My job was to distribute the oats and the hay to the cows while grandpa was doing his thing on the other end. As grandpa was finishing transferring the milk cans to the cooler, he sent me back to the house.<br \/>It was an extremely cold January evening. It was well below zero. The only visible lights were the dim glow coming from the barn and a little dim light coming from the farm-house windows. About halfway to the house I recall coming to a complete stop. Standing in that extreme cold I felt frozen in time. In every direction 360 degrees at eye level all I could see were stars, billions, and billions of stars. It seemed as if I could reach out and touch them. It was the most breathtaking sky I had ever seen and have ever seen to this day. What I experienced at that moment I have always had difficulty finding words to describe. I felt the embrace and the warmth of God\u2019s love. I knew that God was real, that God loved me, and that God had a plan for my life. I remember feeling this profound connection with God and with the entire universe. I knew that I was a part of God\u2019s creation. I was overcome by the glory and the beauty and the immensity of God and of His universe. And at that moment I knew that I was an integral part of God and His creation. I knew that God did not want a universe without me. The touch of my grandfather\u2019s big hand grabbing mine brought me back to earth. I could smell the fresh baked bread as we neared the house.<br \/>Many times in my life I have returned to that place, physically and spiritually. It would be easy to feel lost or insignificant in the experience of spans of the universe. I think that many people often do. I did not. I felt a profound connection with God and with all that He created. I have always known where I came from and where I was going. I have often felt a little lost along the journey, but this foundational experience has always been my compass and my guiding light. Knowing that my life is not mere chance, gives me meaning and pur-pose, faith, and hope. Knowing that I am loved from the foundation of the universe fills me with life and with gratitude!<\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-588 aligncenter\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"77\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-300x77.png 300w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-1024x262.png 1024w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature-768x196.png 768w, https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/signature.png 1401w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f44b3c8 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"f44b3c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" 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4.5-18.5 11.6-46.6 6.2-64.2-4.7-29.4-42.4-26.5-47.8-6.8-5 18.3-.4 44.1 8.1 77-11.6 27.6-28.7 64.6-40.8 85.8-.1 0-.1.1-.2.1-27.1 13.9-73.6 44.5-54.5 68 5.6 6.9 16 10 21.5 10 17.9 0 35.7-18 61.1-61.8 25.8-8.5 54.1-19.1 79-23.2 21.7 11.8 47.1 19.5 64 19.5 29.2 0 31.2-32 19.7-43.4-13.9-13.6-54.3-9.7-73.6-7.2zM377 105L279 7c-4.5-4.5-10.6-7-17-7h-6v128h128v-6.1c0-6.3-2.5-12.4-7-16.9zm-74.1 255.3c4.1-2.7-2.5-11.9-42.8-9 37.1 15.8 42.8 9 42.8 9z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Download Printable Version<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15ae42a elementor-align-left elementor-mobile-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"15ae42a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm elementor-animation-shrink\" href=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/index.php\/sunday-reflections\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-long-arrow-alt-left\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M134.059 296H436c6.627 0 12-5.373 12-12v-56c0-6.627-5.373-12-12-12H134.059v-46.059c0-21.382-25.851-32.09-40.971-16.971L7.029 239.029c-9.373 9.373-9.373 24.569 0 33.941l86.059 86.059c15.119 15.119 40.971 4.411 40.971-16.971V296z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Back to Sunday 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data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;show_arrows&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pagination&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:500,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;autoplay_speed&quot;:5000,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_hover&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_interaction&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;space_between&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;space_between_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;space_between_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"testimonial-carousel.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-main-swiper swiper\" role=\"region\" aria-roledescription=\"carousel\" aria-label=\"Slides\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tI first encountered Fr. Glenn\u2019s preaching on Ash Wednesday, 2006.\u00a0 It only took one homily, and my family and I realized that Fr. Glenn has a very special gift.\u00a0 Fr. Glenn is clearly very spiritual, and that comes through in all of his homilies and reflections.\u00a0 His spirituality is not aloof, or inaccessible.\u00a0 His holiness is authentic, grounded, accessible and on fire.\u00a0 And, that fire is shared, such that the listener also becomes on fire, and inspired to go deeper with Scripture, with God and with our neighbor.\u00a0 Fr. Glenn has inspired me to engage at the deepest level and to work to find my spiritual path, always encouraging, mentoring, coaching.\u00a0 I would strongly encourage anyone who can to attend one of his Masses, homilies, or podcasts.\u00a0 Catch the fire of the Holy Spirit working through Fr. Glenn!!!\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/gf-favicon-01.png\" alt=\"John J Hern Jr.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-testimonial__cite\"><span class=\"elementor-testimonial__name\">John J Hern Jr.<\/span><\/cite>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFr. Glenn has many charisms, which he displays by his compassion, theological intelligence, spirituality, and love of God.  His compassion is continually displayed when he visits the sick of the parish. His manner of prayer and conversation is definitively a gift from God.  His spirituality is very evident when he preaches. His homilies are instructive, encouraging and centered on God\u2019s infinite love for each of us. Fr. Glenn is a teacher, a mentor, and a wonderful listener who encourages those around him to follow Jesus more closely. He is Spirit filled, Spirit led and Spirit giving!\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-testimonial__image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/gf-favicon-01.png\" alt=\"Deacon Scott &amp; Claudia Jamieson\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-testimonial__cite\"><span class=\"elementor-testimonial__name\">Deacon Scott & Claudia Jamieson<\/span><\/cite>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-prev\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Previous\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-chevron-left\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M646 125C629 125 613 133 604 142L308 442C296 454 292 471 292 487 292 504 296 521 308 533L604 854C617 867 629 875 646 875 663 875 679 871 692 858 704 846 713 829 713 812 713 796 708 779 692 767L438 487 692 225C700 217 708 204 708 187 708 171 704 154 692 142 675 129 663 125 646 125Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-next\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Next\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-chevron-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M696 533C708 521 713 504 713 487 713 471 708 454 696 446L400 146C388 133 375 125 354 125 338 125 325 129 313 142 300 154 292 171 292 187 292 204 296 221 308 233L563 492 304 771C292 783 288 800 288 817 288 833 296 850 308 863 321 871 338 875 354 875 371 875 388 867 400 854L696 533Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time &#8211; Year B Reading I Amos 7:12-15Amaziah, priest of Bethel, said to Amos, \u201cOff with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah! There earn your bread by prophesying, but never again prophesy in Bethel; for it is the king\u2019s sanctuary and a royal temple.\u201d Amos answered Amaziah, \u201cI [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":858,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2175","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sunday-readings"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>\u2014The Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - The Gratitude Foundation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gratitudefoundation.us\/index.php\/2024\/07\/13\/the-fifteenth-sunday-in-ordinary-time\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u2014The Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - The Gratitude Foundation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time &#8211; Year B Reading I Amos 7:12-15Amaziah, priest of Bethel, said to Amos, \u201cOff with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah! 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