In today's first reading, Amos 7: 12-15, Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, commands the prophet Amos to leave Bethel. He does not want him prophesying in his land: "Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah!" In other words, a prophet is not welcome in Bethel--" "...[I]t is the king's sanctuary and a royal temple," Amaziah proudly tells Amos.
A prophet is someone, in my mind, who comes to tell the truth about a situation to which I may be blind. Cozy in my comfort zone, I may not want to be disturbed and especially not from someone who is carrying a message that I need to hear!
To whom might I say: "Off with you, visionaries"? Or to whom might I refer as follows: "Tell those religion people to leave my property"! Or whom do I avoid because I do not want to hear what they have to say because they are speaking a truth that I really need to hear? These are the people who may be messengers from God.
Lord, open my heart to the truth that you send to me through your "prophets": a neighbor, a spouse, a child, a member from my parish (the priest, the minister, the deacon, a fellow parishioner), a co-worker, a neighbor!
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