Amos

Tuesday, December 8, 2009 -- Week of 2 Advent, Year Two
Richard Baxter, Pastor and Writer, 1691

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 937)
Psalms 26, 28 (morning) 36, 39 (evening)
Amos 7:10-17
Revelation 1:9-16
Matthew 22:34-46
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first, a note about today new observance in the trial calendar, Holy Women, Holy Men:
Baxter, Richard [1615-December 8, 1691] Puritan Divine and influential Evangelical
writer. Author of hymn, Ye holy angels bright. (Dec. 8)
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In our reading today we get the only account of an event in the life of the great eighth century prophet Amos. Everything else we have is his prophesy. But today we get a story of a pointed conflict between Amos and the priest of Bethel, the great shrine of the northern kingdom of Israel.

Amos has prophesied against Israel and against its king Jeroboam. Speaking in God's name, he says, "See, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass them by; the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword."

In response to these words against the king and nation, Amaziah, the official priest at the great shrine of Bethel responds. He informs on Amos. Amaziah sends word to King Jeroboam that Amos has spoken words that would probably be interpreted to be unpatriotic, treasonous, and potentially liable to imprisonment or exile. Then Amaziah banishes Amos from Bethel, one of the central religious centers of Israel.

"Go home, immigrant. You are not from here. Take your nasty prophecies back to your own country (Judea) and make your living as a prophet there," says Amaziah to Amos (my paraphrase).

"I'm no huckster. I don't make a living as a professional prophet, a religious TV celebrity like you," Amos replies. (obviously, my paraphrase) "I'm just a simple man of the soil. God took me and told me to prophecy to Israel. You tell me to leave? I tell you, your wife shall become a whore, your children will be killed violently, your land will be taken, you will die banished among pagans, and "Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land."

Amos minced no words. He makes Keith Olberman look soft on George W. Bush.

Amos spoke judgment to a secure and wealthy land. Israel was a nation that observed its religious traditions. It was a confident and strong nation. And Amos said that it was under God's judgment. Why? Because of the abuse of power by the strong and the elite.

Amos is Israel's prophet of social justice. True religion is not just ritual observances, but a moral life grounded in fair and equitable treatment of all members of society, especially the poor and powerless, says Amos. Amos demands political justice, judicial justice, and economic justice on behalf of those who are not wealthy or strong. Amos condemns the elite and declares God's judgment upon the entire nation because of their greed and abuse.

Amos is a model of advocacy and ethics. Amos challenges those of us who are religious to exercise our faith on behalf of a just society. He tells us we are to oppose policies that favor the wealthy and powerful. He tells us to advocate on behalf of the poor and oppressed, the alien and the outcast. He tells us that God will judge and condemn our nation unless we create liberty and justice for all. Amos was willing to challenge the entrenched powers of church, state and commerce. He was willing to be called traitor and betrayer. He was willing to change the structures of his age so that all people would have equal access to the necessities of life and the opportunities to flourish. In God's Name, Amos gives to us a moral political and economic agenda for our time. Will we listen, or will we, like 8th century Israel, continue in the ways of pride and greed?

Lowell

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About Morning Reflections
Morning Reflections is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html


The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Visit our web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

Our Rule of Life

We aspire to...
worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.

Lowell Grisham, Rector

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, Arkansas