Jun 30 – First Martyrs of the Church of Rome
These holy men and women are also called the “Protomartyrs of Rome”. They were accused of burning Rome by Nero, who burned Rome to cover his own crimes. Some martyrs were burned as living torches at evening banquets, some crucified, and others were fed to wild animals. These martyrs died before Sts. Peter and Paul, and are called “disciples of the Apostles. . . whom the Holy Roman church sent to their Lord before the Apostles’ death”.
– http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=3385
Amos 3:1-8,4:11-12
Mt 8:23-27
Does the snare spring up from the ground if nothing has been caught?
There are some characters in life whom we meet who do not take easily to warnings. There are times when we may highlight a caution to someone, and they may laugh it off or even doubt our good intentions. “You’re worrying too much.” Or “That won’t be happening to me!”
Just like a child learns to heed a warning, and perhaps learns from cause and effect if they did not obey, so too do adults sometimes have to be rebuked by consequences in order to commit their lessons to heart and memory. As a parent, I have often learnt to bite my tongue and withhold over-repeating my advice when my child persists in disobedience and risky behaviours. Sometimes, the lesson is taught best by consequence. Sometimes, the punishment lies in the outcome.
In the first reading of today, the prophet Amos reminds the Israelites about the natural consequences of their sinful actions and disobedience to God. He uses allegory to recall their minds to the consequences of the natural world.
Does the lion roar in the jungle
if no prey has been found?
Does the young lion growl in his lair
if he has captured nothing?
Does the bird fall to the ground
if no trap has been set?
And importantly, he highlights:
“You alone, of all the families of earth, have I acknowledged,
therefore it is for all your sins that I mean to punish you.
Do two men take the road together
if they have not planned to do so?
…
This therefore, Israel, is what I plan to do to you,
and because I am going to do this to you,
Israel, prepare to meet your God!”
What would our reactions be, if we were one of those present in ancient times hearing these fearsome prophecies? What consequences would we suffer for our evil ways? The prophet Amos sounds almost at his wits’ end in persuading the Israelites to repent and hence, he finally announces “prepare to meet your God!” Would we truly be cowered and remorseful to repent of our sinful ways? I hope so. But human nature and history tells us that the temptations of the evil one continued to visit the Israelites, and they remained largely stubborn and failed to fully trust and obey in God.
At the same time in the Gospel today, we read of Jesus who rebuked the wind and the seas after the fearful cries of the disciples in the raging storm. ‘Save us, Lord, we are going down!’ And he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened, you men of little faith?’
Time and again, we witness through Sacred Scripture, the weaknesses of our forefathers of faith and the natural consequences they faced because of their lack of trust and obedience in God. Yes, we are not alone in this constant spiritual battle. Yet, may we always seek to choose the wiser path in this life’s sojourn, so that we may not be caught ignorant in our footsteps and rebuked by the final consequence of death.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Debbie Loo)
Prayer: Lord, Heavenly Father, we ask for your deep and abiding mercy to save us from our weaknesses and our imperfections. Help us to train our ears, eyes and heart to listen to you without delay and to follow you all the days of our lives.
Thanksgiving: Lord Jesus Christ, son of the living God, you gave us the gift of faith and the path of salvation to follow. Teach us to live out our gratitude through faithfulness to you and your Word.
OXYGEN 
Leave a comment