Word to the Wise
Monday, June 30, 2008 - Monday in the Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time
[Amos 2:6-10, 13-16 and Matthew 8:18-22]For three crimes of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke my word; because they sell the just man for silver, and the poor man for a pair of sandals. They trample the heads of the weak into the dust of the earth, and force the lowly out of the way.
There is one thing about Amos that most folks would agree on: he "tells it like it is!" "Subtle" would not describe him! He roars and points the finger! There is no escaping his searing critique! It is about the quality of life in Israel! In short, they are an economically (and therefore, morally) oppressive society! Did they listen to him? No. Not long after he lived, the Assyrians conquered the "Northern Kingdom" and the "good life" disappeared! For the next few days, the church will be meditating on Amos as the first scripture of the day! It might be tempting to see Amos as some kind of ancient caricature from the bible without any relevance to our own time. We could not be more mistaken! Our confidence in the economic system of the Western world, especially in the "global economy" (which NPR seems to feel compelled to spend an inordinate amount of time on each morning) can make us as morally complacent as the ancient Israelites. How many times have we been told that much of the merchandise that we consume in this country is produced by laborers working under conditions scarcely better than slavery? Sometimes a gentle tap on the conscience is all that is needed. Sometimes a blow that knocks us for a loop is required. Guess which one Amos is? The next few days will be bumpy! AMEN
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