C Cycle –a,4- 26thSunday in Ordinary time 25

Amos 6:1a, 4-7

God through the prophet Amos is warning us of the dangers of being complacent and comfortable.  We do seek all that life offers without considering they are the very things used by the one who wants to keep you from enjoying the life God desire for you. It is a simple strategy to implement.  Just keep us satisfied with the status quo. Keep us satisfied with our spiritual life, and content with our parish, for it is considered a “vibrant parish.”  Hundreds of volunteers are kept busy with service, proclamation, spiritual programs, prayer, and outreach.  There is something offered for every age group and every need. 

It is easy to be “spiritually proud” and content.  After all we fail to consider we are the ones who Jesus talks about, those who boast about all the things we did in His name.  The ones he says, “depart from me you evil doers for I do not know you.”  It is because we are not content.  We are in control and prevents us from seeking the more God desires us to experience. God is calling us to wake up and seek what is uncomfortable, becoming a disciple.  Seek and encounter with God that is so powerful we know we must respond by a constant expansion of our faith. 

We must learn the lessons of discipleship given to us in the scriptures. How many miracles were witnessed by the disciples?  It is not a question you must answer. The miracles do reveal the divinity of Christ, but they also give insights as to how we can avoid complacency.  Those miracles were not enough to overcome the disciple’s confusion and doubts after His crucifixion.  It took more than Jesus appearing to them after His resurrection to help them understand what is needed to continue growing spiritually.  Today the life of a disciple is no different than it was then.  It is one of constant challenges. 

If you have a young family, it is a challenge to get to church each Sunday. If your parish is not vibrant it may be a challenge to your ability to continue spiritually growing.  If you are in a small parish, it may be a challenge to grow in service to others because there is not a need for more volunteers. Or worse yet, those serving may feel threatened because they will serve less often.  But those obstacles should not prevent you from reading the scriptures, listening to podcasts, seeking spiritual opportunities in other parishes. Discipleship demands we must continue seeking a deeper relationship with Christ while understanding we will be daily challenged to discover more.

Jesus constantly challenged His disciples, never let them get comfortable.  The call of Peter, Andrew, James, and John was simply “follow me.”  Leave your life as you know and follow me.  Give up your livelihood, family, and come follow me.  They left and each day there were challenge to trust Jesus would some how take care of them and those they left behind.  Abraham was told by God go to a land I will show you.  Moses was told to go to Pharoh and tell him to set the Israelites free. Note, Moses resisted because he was unable to speak.  Mary was told to allow the Holy to overshadow her and conceive the Son of God. 

God is telling us to not get complacent but to answer the call of discipleship.  Our response is to question our ability to measure up, to meet the standard required to be a disciple.  We are more like Gideon who responded to God’s call by saying “please Lord, not me.”  He knew his deficiencies were many and he was incapable of achieving what God wanted of him.  Eventually, he gives in, and the holy Spirit enveloped him, bringing about a total transformation of him into a warrior for God. Unfortunately, we do not have time to tell his story, but you can check it out in Judges 6 beginning with verse one.

If we are honest with ourselves, we must admit we prefer a comfortable faith because we are like Gideon and fail to see what God has gifted us to achieve.  Yes, gifted us with all we need to achieve things for God’s kingdom.  Paul said it best when he said, “…we are God’s handiwork created in Christ Jesus for the good works God has prepared for us before anyone of them existed so that we may live in them” (Eph.2:10). Our response should be, “God help me discover where you want me to serve.” It is the reply of Samuel, “send me.” It is the response of Abraham who just started walking. I tis the response of Mary, “let it be done according to your word.’

However, instead of embracing our call we are hesitant and doubt we have what it takes to be a disciple. Consider the widow Elisha visited and asked her for something to eat. The widow responded by saying “I have nothing just a little oil and flour.”  He said give it to me and he multiplied it so she and her son could live. Consider the story of the multiplication of the loaves and fish. The disciples were pleading with Jesus to send the crowd away because they were in a desolate place.  People needed to eat and there was nothing near them where they could get something to eat.  Jesus told them to feed them themselves. 

They pleaded even more to send them away for they had nothing. What did Jesus say? WHAT DO YOU HAVE! There it is the answer to complacency is to trust what God has done within us. Avoid looking at you lack and admit you have a desire to grow spiritually. That you have been too comfortable with the status quo.  Respond by having the courage to step out of your comfortable spiritual life and start a journey to fullness of life, living by faith not sight.  Acknowledge God has gifted you and me with all we need to walk on water.  Just bring what you have to Jesus and let him multiply it.