In his last Sunday sermon before being assassinated in 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., preached these words at Washington National Cathedral: “Cowardice asks the question, Is it safe? Expediency asks the question, Is it politic? And Vanitycomes along and asks the question, Is it popular? But Conscience asks the question, Is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do it because conscience tells him it is right.”
Dr. King was speaking of the prophet’s moment: that point when the prophet proclaims the truth of God’s justice and peace, knowing fully well the cost that will be exacted for proclaiming the truth and denouncing evil. Amos, whom we encountered in our first reading, was one such prophet.
In his times, there were many professional prophets who would prophesy for a fee. But Amos wasn’t one of them. He was an arborist, selected by God to deliver his word and truth to the people of Bethel, which he did. They were facing destruction unless they changed their lives. Amaziah, their priest, ordered Amos to leave the country but Amos replied, “The Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ ” This ordinary man became the vehicle of God’s truth.
Amos’ concern was focused on the message God had given him, not whether people would be impressed with him. We see the same scenario in the gospel. Jesus sends out his disciples to preach repentance. He groomed twelve ordinary men to do as Amos did. There was nothing extraordinary about them, whom Jesus commissioned to expel demons, heal the sick, and preach the good news. As with Amos, the word of God worked through them. And as with Amos, Jesus knew that they would encounter rejection. He told them, “Whatever place does not listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.”
Amos had been telling the people of Israel that they needed to repent and return to the basics of their religion, follow the commandments and give up their self-indulgent idolatries. He knew that what they were doing wasn’t right. You would think with God’s authority and power behind him, everyone would listen and obey, but his message was not comfortable, so they rejected it and sent Amos packing.
Eight centuries later, Jesus sent out his disciples, knowing that they too would encounter resistance to his message of repentance. Simply put, fallen human nature doesn’t like to be pushed outside of its comfort zone. Thus many chose not to listen to the disciples, rejecting their call to repentance and the opportunity to have their unclean spirits driven out.
Today, the Church is asking us to reflect on how well we listen to God’s prophets who endeavor to convey his words. Are we selective listeners, picking and choosing according to what fits our comfort zone? Or are we true followers of Christ, willing to love and obey him even when it means being willing to “hear what God proclaims; for he proclaims peace”?
Think of your heart as the house Jesus mentions here. If we welcome God’s message, his grace will come and stay there, bringing us peace, wisdom, and salvation. But if we don’t, God’s word will shake the dust from its feet and move on. St. Augustine used to say, “Beware of the grace that passes by, never to return again.”
Granted, listening to God can be disconcerting but God loves us too much to let us vegetate in our comfort zone. God knows that if we do, we will never truly seek the kingdom of heaven. Through the words of prophets, past and present, God seeks to lead us further along the path of spiritual maturity, further up the mountain of Christian wisdom, courage and holiness. For that reason, God is inviting us to be good listeners, listening to the whole message being shared instead of reacting to a line or two that generates discomfort and resistance. We have a duty to listen and allow God’s word to find a place in our hearts.
We have all failed to listen to God at times, failed to trust in God’s wisdom and goodness. That is why we have sinned, giving into our selfish tendencies and letting our fears override our faith. Today, Jesus invites us to renew our trust in him, make a fresh start as we venture out of this pandemic, making a point to come to Mass, to reaffirm our commitment to listen to him and follow where he leads, so he can fill our lives more fully with his grace.
In accepting his invitation, we need to take two steps. First we have to sincerely ask the Lord to forgive us for the times we haven’t listened and rejected his wisdom. Nothing hurts God more than when we listen to the seductive voice of temptation more attentively than the loving voice of our Lord. God makes that easy by offering us the sacrament of reconciliation. Secondly, choose friends who will help you hear God’s voice, rather than lead you astray.
In our time and place there are prophets living among us who give their lives for their witness to God’s reconciliation, peace and justice. Dr. King wasn’t alone. God has called on many to speak quietly and fearlessly. At some time, we will face our own “prophetic moment.” Whenever you hear God’s prophetic voice, the truth, allow your conscience to embrace it with the courage of God’s wisdom to know what is right.