Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Amos 7:10-17; Matthew 9:1-8)
In the past on the Fourth of July Americans proudly expressed
their patriotism. Many participated in parades
and some in special prayer services to show their gratitude for their strong,
prosperous, and free society. This year,
however, patriotism invokes more critical self-examination than celebration. Americans should take time to consider what
is going wrong in their country. Public opinion is radically divided on vital
issues like immigration and family. More
worrisome, the specter of anarchy looms with the upcoming elections.
The country’s predicament is akin to that of Israel at the
time of Amos. Today’s first reading
shows how the prophet is condemned for speaking out against the injustices of
the nation. He chastised the people for
ignoring the poor and following other gods.
Is this not like what is happening in the United States when nuclear families
are not strengthened? Are not the gods
of pleasure and of self eclipsing the true God of Israel?
In the gospel Jesus forgives the sins of the paralytic
before he cures his lameness. The United
States should seek forgiveness for its wandering from the path of justice. Remedying the causes of injustice, it will
walk proudly again.
