Amos was herding sheep when the Lord chose him to prophesy King Jereboam’s death and Israel’s exile. The prophet was hated and threatened for this message. John the Baptist also suffered for his faithful preaching of repentance; King Herod imprisoned and then executed John out of pride and fear. But for John and us, Jesus destroyed death itself. Through baptism into Christ, we are “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” that we may endure in proclaiming the good news and receive salvation from the fetters of death.
