Introduction to the
book of Amos[1]
Amos was a sheep
breeder of Tekoa in Judah, who delivered his oracles in the Northern Kingdom
during the prosperous reign of Jeroboam II (786–746 B.C.). He prophesied in
Israel at the great cult center of Bethel, from which he was finally expelled
by the priest in charge of this royal sanctuary. The poetry of Amos, who
denounces the hollow prosperity of the Northern Kingdom, is filled with imagery
and language taken from his own pastoral background. The book is an anthology
of his oracles and was compiled either by the prophet or by some of his
disciples. The prophecy begins with a sweeping indictment of Damascus,
Philistia, Tyre, and Edom; but the forthright herdsman saves his climactic denunciation
for Israel, whose injustice and idolatry are sins against the light granted to
her. Israel could indeed expect the day of the Lord, but it would be a day of
darkness and not light. When Amos prophesied the overthrow of the sanctuary,
the fall of the royal house, and the captivity of the people, it was more than
Israelite officialdom could bear. The priest of Bethel drove Amos from the
shrine—but not before hearing a terrible sentence pronounced upon himself. Amos
is a prophet of divine judgment, and the sovereignty of the Lord in nature and
history dominates his thought. But he was no innovator; his conservatism was in
keeping with the whole prophetic tradition calling the people back to the high
moral and religious demands of the Lord’s revelation. Amos’s message stands as
one of the most powerful voices ever to challenge hypocrisy and injustice. He
boldly indicts kings, priests, and leaders. He stresses the importance and the
divine origin of the prophetic word; one must either heed that word in
its entirety or suffer its disappearance. Religion without justice is an
affront to the God of Israel and, far from appeasing God, can only provoke
divine wrath. The Lord is not some petty national god but the sovereign creator
of the cosmos. Amos alludes to historical forces at work through which God
would exercise judgment on Israel. Several times he mentions deportation as the
fate that awaits the people and their corrupt leaders, a standard tactic of
Assyrian foreign policy during this period. Through the prophetic word and
various natural disasters, the Lord has tried to bring Israel to repentance,
but to no avail. Israel’s rebelliousness has exhausted the divine patience and
the destruction of Israel as a nation and as God’s people is inevitable. As it
is presented in this book, Amos’s message is one of almost unrelieved gloom. A
later appendix, however, ends the book on a hopeful note, looking beyond the
judgment that had already taken place in fulfillment of Amos’s word.
JUNE 23 Tuesday in
the Octave of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
ST. JOHN’S EVE-WIDOWS DAY
Amos, Chapter 3, Verse 8
The
lion has roared, who would not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken, who would not prophesy?
The LORD is my shepherd; there is
nothing I lack. In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads
me; he restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of his
name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear
no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me. You set a
table before me in front of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup
overflows. Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life; I
will dwell in the house of the LORD for endless days.
St. John Bonfires[2]
St.
John’s bonfire is traditionally lit on the night
before the Feast. The mood surrounding this solemn vigil is merry, since the
day was regarded as a sort of summer Christmas. The Roman ritual even includes
a special benedictio rogi, or blessing of the bonfire, for the birthday
of the Baptist:
Lord God, Father almighty,
unfailing Light who is the Source of all light: sanctify this new fire, and grant
that after the darkness of this life we may be able to come with pure minds to
Thee who art Light unfailing. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Domine Deus, Pater omnipotens,
lumen indeficiens, qui es conditor omnium luminum: novum hunc ignem sanctifica,
et praesta: ut ad te, qui es lumen indeficiens, puris mentibus post hujus
saeculi caliginem pervenire valeamus. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
The bonfire, incidentally, is an excellent symbol for
John, the untamed prophet who lived outside the city both literally and
figuratively. It also makes an interesting contrast with the Paschal candle. On
Easter vigil, a similarly "wild" fire representing Christ is made
outside and is used to light the Paschal candle, which is then carried into the
church. Significantly, in the Exultet the deacon praises this candle as
the product of a beehive, symbol of a virtuous and harmonious city. The idea
seems to be that Christ is also an outsider, though he succeeds through his
death and resurrection in bringing the light of truth into the very citadel of
darkness. On the other hand, John, who never lived to see Christ's triumph, can
only bear witness to the light from the outside.
Things to Do[3]
·
St.
John's Birth marks the summer solstice. On the eve of this feast many countries
have celebrated with bonfires. This is especially true in Ireland, Estonia,
Latvia, and Lithuania. See the list of suggested activities to read more about
this tradition.
·
Read
about St. John's Eve particularly in Ireland (note the link is a secular
website).
·
From
the Germanic countries, here is some information on the Summer Solstice.
International
Widows’
Day[4]
International Widows' Day
serves to recognize widows and their unique situations worldwide. Widows are
women whose husbands have died. After their husbands have passed, many widows
are forced to fight for their human rights and overcome many obstacles to
ensure their social and economic development. It is estimated that there are
over 245 million widows worldwide, nearly half of which live in extreme poverty
and are subject to cruel violence.
International Widows' Day was declared by the United Nations and first
celebrated on June 23, 2011 in an effort to empower widows and help them to
regain their rights, which have long been ignored and violated.
Today do something to help
a widow or single parent. Check out www.flyingscarfs.com
Daily
Devotions/Practices
·
Do not ask everyone’s opinion, but only
the opinion of your confessor; be as frank and simple as a child with him.
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face-Tuesday
Devotion
·
Pray Day 1 of
the Novena for our Pope and Bishops
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
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