Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Title

Professed or Professional?

Outline

When I look around I see a lot of “professional” people

Usually that means that one works (often full time or more) in a field

For instance, I was and to a degree am, a professional biblical scholar

Usually it requires a significant degree of training and education

For instance, while there are people who identify themselves as biblical scholars who have less training, typically a PhD is required

Usually it means that one derives status and income from that activity

Sometimes the term is only an attempt to give equal status to all jobs

Often confused with those people are those who are professed

Profession is a term of commitment - in the religious sense, usually expressed in vows

But profession does not in and of itself confer status, income, or training, only calling and commitment

Amos is accused of being a professional prophet

Notice that it is connected to “earn[ing] your bread”

Amos denies this: his job was herdsman and sycamore fig pruner

His prophetic activity was a calling to which he committed: “the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’”

Likewise Ephesians says that “Christian” is not a professional, but one who is professed, committed

God blessed, chose, destined us. We committed - i.e. acted in faith towards - what God presented

God has dealt with our past, shown us the “mystery of his will” and revealed to us his future for us - among other things

We believed (in the sense of committed without having already received) and then were sealed by the Spirit, who is the experience of (“first installment of”) what is coming

“Christian” in Paul’s eyes is not something to put on a business card or CV, but a calling to embrace.

That is what Jesus called the apostles to live

He had called his disciples originally and now he calls the Twelve specifically - they did not apply

He does not so much train them as give them authority over demons and instruct them what to proclaim (i.e. what he proclaimed)

He does not outfit them, but rather tells them not to outfit themselves - trust in God

He does not offer them a salary, but rather the hospitality of the worthy and rejection by the unworthy

They committed and off they went - they were professed

Sisters, we need to watch that difference

We have professional training, and that is true; we may have professional certification - and that can be valuable

But at root we are professed

I did not choose to become a biblical teacher any more that I chose to become a priest - God called me before I really knew what either was and I committed

I committed whether or not I made money; I committed whether or not I gained status - I committed.

When it came to biblical teacher, I learned what the commitment meant, what the “vows” were, as I went along. When I became a priest, I learned what the vows meant as I went along

I sometimes confused profession with professional; in priesthood that is clericalism that wants the resurrected Christ without the crucified Christ.

Still, at root it was always a profession

And so I suspect it is with you - the call is different but the nature of being called is the same

Our duty is to constantly watch our lives to see where professionalism might be creeping into our souls and minds in the wrong places and to renew our profession, asking God to refresh our calling.

We do this for ourselves and, perhaps in subtle ways, we communicate this to others.

Then we live in the joy and promise of the profession, whatever our outward circumstances, rather than trying to establish our own professional status.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 7-11-2021: Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

Amos 7:12–15

12 To Amos, Amaziah said: “Off with you, seer, flee to the land of Judah and there earn your bread by prophesying! 13 But never again prophesy in Bethel; for it is the king’s sanctuary and a royal temple.” 14 Amos answered Amaziah, “I am not a prophet, nor do I belong to a company of prophets. I am a herdsman and a dresser of sycamores, 15 but the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’

Catholic Daily Readings 7-11-2021: Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 85:8

8 Show us, LORD, your mercy;

grant us your salvation.

PSALM

Psalm 85:9–14

9 I will listen for what God, the LORD, has to say;

surely he will speak of peace

To his people and to his faithful.

May they not turn to foolishness!

10 Near indeed is his salvation for those who fear him;

glory will dwell in our land.

11 Love and truth will meet;

justice and peace will kiss.

12 Truth will spring from the earth;

justice will look down from heaven.

13 Yes, the LORD will grant his bounty;

our land will yield its produce.

14 Justice will march before him,

and make a way for his footsteps.

Catholic Daily Readings 7-11-2021: Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SECOND READING

Option A

Ephesians 1:3–14

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, 4 as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love 5 he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, 6 for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved.

7 In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace 8 that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight, 9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him 10 as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.

11 In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, 12 so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ. 13 In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised holy Spirit, 14 which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory.

Catholic Daily Readings 7-11-2021: Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Ephesians 1:17–18

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. 18 May the eyes of [your] hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones,

GOSPEL

Mark 6:7–13

7 He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. 8 He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts. 9 They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. 10 He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. 11 Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” 12 So they went off and preached repentance. 13 They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 7-11-2021: Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SUNDAY, JULY 11, 2021 | ORDINARY TIME

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR B | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Amos 7:12–15

Response Psalm 85:8

Psalm Psalm 85:9–14

Second Reading Ephesians 1:3–14 or Ephesians 1:3–10

Gospel Acclamation Ephesians 1:17–18

Gospel Mark 6:7–13

GREEN