Punishing the favorites

In today’s first reading (Amos 3:1-8; 4:11-12), God says this to the People of God:

You alone have I favored,
more than all the families of the earth;
Therefore I will punish you
for all your crimes.

It may sounds strange to punish the favored, but it is true on a number of levels.

On one level, it is an instance of “where much is given, much is required.”

On another level, intensity of intimacy means intensity of feeling. The closer we are to God, the greater the joys when we are faithful, but also the greater the hurt when we offend.

May we always ask the Lord Jesus Christ for his grace, so that all hurts and offenses may be healed and that we may draw ever closer to him in faithfulness and love.