Psalm Reflection: The Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle C

“He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.” - Psalm 15

Every time I see the book of the prophet Amos in the Old Testament I think of Famous Amos cookies. They always sound so good, but they are so bad for me. The prophet Amos, on the other hand, sounded so bad to those he prophesied to, but what he said was so good and necessary for them to hear.

Amos was a prophet to the Northern Kingdom of Israel roughly 750 years before Jesus lived. He was warning Israel that their sins of idolatry and injustice had consequences and those consequences would be coming soon in the form of total annihilation by the Assyrian empire.

You would think people would have been grateful for the heads up from Amos and would have taken the chance to correct their behavior. Sadly, that is not the response he received. Everybody hated Amos because they did not want to hear his pronouncements of divine judgment: there was too much fire and brimstone and not enough encouragement. The people were so comfortable in their wealth and luxuries, which they gained by taking advantage of the poor and vulnerable, that they were not willing to see the errors of their ways and repent:

Thus says the LORD:

For three crimes of Israel, and now four—

I will not take it back—

Because they hand over the just for silver,

and the poor for a pair of sandals;

They trample the heads of the destitute

into the dust of the earth,

and force the lowly out of the way.

—Amos 2:6-7

Amos came to remind the people he prophesied to that religion without justice is no religion at all. When we approach the spiritual life selfishly, thinking only of what we stand to gain, we miss the entire point of the mission of Jesus. Being a Christian is ENTIRELY about what we are called to give:

Giving praise to Jesus for saving us from sin.

Giving generously to provide for the needs of others.

Giving of our time and talent to build up the faith community.

Giving of our lives over to God to be used as His instruments.

Giving up our pride and remembering it is not about us.

In an individualistic, merit-based society fueled by wealth and competition, this is completely opposed to the goals and aspirations of most people. Too many people are so busy chasing more zeros to add to their paycheck that they do not see how many people are simply chasing their next meal.

The Psalmist reminds us this week that if we want to really experience God as real and present in our lives, we must do justice. As the prophet Micah wrote:

You have been told, O mortal, what is good,

and what the LORD requires of you:

Only to do justice and to love goodness,

and to walk humbly with your God.

—Micah 6:8

So, how are you working for justice in your own life? How can you start?

First, assess your own goals and aspirations. If all of your prayers were answered and all of your goals were reached today, would anyone’s life change but your own? How can you expand how so see the world and what you hope to achieve to benefit the most people possible?

Second, instead of asking what you can get, ask what you can give. You play a vital role in the plan of God, with a unique combination of gifts, talents, and experience that no one else has. Are you using them to serve others, or only to serve yourself? Remember, God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7), so give not out of obligation, but out of love for those around you. 

Third, if you see a need, fill it. We are very good at complaining and critiquing in our 5-star Yelp-review culture. We are quick to point out problems and expect others to fix them. We are quick to complain and slow to praise, quick to critique and slow to act. Instead, be quick to praise, and quick to act when you see something that needs to be fixed, addressed, or supported. Whether it is in your home, workplace, school, community or your parish, ask yourself, “If not me, then who? If not now, then when?”

Lastly, give a voice to causes and people in need. Give money if you can, but especially take the time to learn about how you can fight against injustice in your own community, city, district, county, state and country. Read up on Catholic Social Teaching. Share what you have learned with others. Recognize that every person you know and encounter, regardless of their beliefs or background, is made in the image and likeness of God, so treat them that way.  We can sometimes think of justice as a negative word, associated with pronouncing judgments and sentences. Rather, justice is about being given what we deserve, and we all deserve to be loved. So, go do justice and you will live in the presence of the Lord who is love Himself.

I am praying for you, please pray for me, and I will see you in the Eucharist.

Matt