MESSAGE FROM BISHOP RICHARD

Dear brothers and sisters,

The Lord’s call to us is often surprising, unexpected and challenging. Amos, the prophet, from whom we hear in this Sunday’s first reading, was – it seems – enjoying a quiet life pruning sycamore trees and looking after sheep. He did not see himself as a prophet. He is clear in his description: “the Lord took me” he says and told him “Go.” Amos responded with fidelity, even though he was not welcomed in the sanctuary at Bethel, the House of God.  

In the Gospel Jesus tells the twelve to “Go.” He had called them, from their various different backgrounds. He teaches them, forms them – and sends them. What is more, they are to travel light, leaving comforts behind.  
 
St Paul, writing to the Ephesians, says: “Before the world was made, He chose us, chose us in Christ… for His own kind purposes.” It is both wonderful and daunting to realise that God made His choice for us before ever the world was. God’s choice for us – for all people of every age and place – is that we praise Him.  
 
The mission He gave to Amos lay in calling the people home. To leave all that prevented them from being God’s people, to leave behind all that prevented them from being who they were called to be – to enable them to praise God in all that they did and in all that they were.
 
The mission of the twelve was also a message of repentance and healing – that all would welcome the Lord Himself, and be His people, giving praise to God.  
 
So with us – the call to each and every Christian, through our baptism, is to be someone who calls others to God, to be the people that God, in His love and mercy, calls us to be.  
 

With every blessing,

+ Richard