Most people do not like to hear or experience bad news. Those who do are often ridiculed and people would ask them whether they are crazy, or are "gluttons for punishment" which basically means to "willfully take on disagreeable or uncomfortable tasks." However, sometimes it is necessary for us to hear and experience bad news, since such bad news could help us learn to be humble, to learn from our mistakes and become better persons, to be more dependent on God, not to be complacent, and not to be too confident or proud of one's wealth, achievements and success.
In today's reading, the prophet Amos had been warning the Israelites of the impending doom which would happen to them if they did not change their ways and return to the Lord's path. But Amaziah the priest of Bethel, tried to curry favour with the king of Israel and tried to chase away the prophet Amos, saying that "this is the royal sanctuary, the national temple." By saying so, Amaziah thought that God would not allow the temple to be desecrated or destroyed, since he believed that God was present in the temple. But what Amaziah failed to realise is that God is not confined only to the temple, and that the prophet Amos had been sent by God to warn the Israelites. Sometimes, pride, as in the case of Amaziah, could lead persons to think that God is on their side, when in reality, that is not the case.
What about us? Could some of us have become like Amaziah, refusing to listen to God's warning? Are we fooling ourselves into thinking that nothing would happen to us? May we take heed and change our ways, and return to God's ways, before it is too late.
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