Today’s Readings – Thursday of Week 13 of Ordinary Time - First Reading

Commentary on Amos 7:10-17

Today we see Amos expelled from the sanctuary of
Bethel, which, as mentioned, was in Israel, the Northern Kingdom. The reading begins with Amaziah, the priest at Bethel, telling Jeroboam, king of Israel, about the things Amos has been saying against the king:

Jeroboam shall die by the sword,
and Israel must go into exile
away from his land.


By “Jeroboam", he means the royal house, where the king’s name also represents the dynasty. In fact, Jeroboam will die a natural death (2 Kings 14:29), but his son and successor Zechariah will be assassinated (2 Kings 15:8,10).

By any standards, these would be regarded as treasonable words and they were seen as such. The fact that they would be proved true was not relevant at this time. An … Continue

Yesterday’s Readings – Saint Oliver Plunkett, Bishop and Martyr

Oliver Plunkett was born in Loughcrew, County Meath, Ireland in 1629 of well-to-do Anglo-Norman parentage. He was related by blood to a number of landowning families, such as the Earl of Fingall, Earl of Louth and Lord Dunsany. Until the age of 16, he was educated by his cousin, Patrick Pl … Continue