Commentary on the Gospel of
After reading these passages the first question I asked myself was: “Who do I serve and who is the Lord of my life?” In the first reading from the Book of Amos there are events from other parts of this chapter that need mentioning . Some of the Israelites, as in the past, by committing a multitude of sins and even toying with the worship of false gods, are the subject of Amos’ admonitions. The message is clear. Seek no evil and commit no sin and God will be with me. If not, don’t try bribing God with empty gifts and promises
The second reading is just as interesting. Jesus comes to the town and cleanses the town of two demoniacs and yet the response from the residents is to beg him to leave. This struck a chord with me. How often I invite Christ into my life but don’t like what happens when he is control. My reaction often is “enough of that, I think I like the way things used to be like.” Therein lies the challenge for me. I can easily attend Mass and other parish activities, donate offerings, partake in solemnities, but like the Israelites, reject God by my true actions. I can also be like the Gadarenes who when Christ actively enters their lives ask him to leave. My challenge every day is to accept the grace of God in as much totality as humanly possible and be up to the tests that might arrive. If I put my efforts into responding properly to Christ’s lordship in my life, great events will come to pass.
