Amos in the 1st Reading of today speaks of his calling, of wanting the people to work for a more just world. He must have seen a lot of injustices all around him, sparking his call for social justice. His message is to be a wakeup call for the people. As people of faith, we are called to responsibility as well. God is calling his people back to him, wanting them to repent. God reminds them that they are a chosen people, that they are held to a high standard. With the blessings that we have, God wants us to reflect God’s justice, mercy, and truth in our lives.
Today’s feast day of the first martyrs of the Holy Roman Church commemorates those Christians who were martyred under the Roman emperor Nero in the year 64 AD. Following a devastating fire in the city of Rome, Nero scapegoated the Christians of the city and subjected them to brutal and horrific deaths. We honor this early witness to our faith. Condemned to death by the Roman senate, Nero himself took his own life a few years later.
May the example of those First Martyrs of the Church of Rome inspire to live our faith each day courageously and boldly. give us courage on our own journey. Pope Francis proclaimed: “We must not be afraid of being Christian and living as Christians! We must have this courage to go and proclaim the Risen Christ, for he is our peace; he made peace with his love, with his forgiveness, with his blood and with his mercy.”
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