Reading: Amos 6:1,4-7
Alas for those who are at ease in Zion, and for those who feel secure on Mount Samaria, the notables of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel resorts! Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory, and lounge on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the stall; who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, and like David improvise on instruments of music; who drink wine from bowls, and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile, and the revelry of the loungers shall pass away. Reflection Today’s reading leaves very little room to beat around the bush—the prophet Amos is mad. He has been sent by God to speak out against the alarming wealth disparity in Israel. The rich “lounge on their couches” and “sing idle songs on the sound of the harp” and “drink wine from bowls” and “anoint themselves with the finest oils.” The rich live lavish lives and don’t think twice about “the ruin of Joseph” which here refers to the plight of the poor. To put it frankly: the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Amos warns that when the Babylonian exile happens, it will be the rich who are sent away first. The Old Testament, particularly Leviticus 25, provides us insight into God’s preferred economy, where everyone receives what they need. God is certainly not against prosperity or living a comfortable life—what God is against, however, is neglecting the poor. When we read passages like this, particularly for those of us who live comfortable lives, it is easy to feel swamped with shame. We start to feel guilty about being so well-to-do; but our feelings of guilt and shame don’t do much to help the poor, do they? The point of Amos’ words is not to induce crippling guilt but to expand our awareness to the needs of others. For those of us who lead comfortable lives, what can we be doing to help make others’ lives more comfortable? For those of us to whom God has given many gifts, how can we share those gifts with others? How might God be calling you to tend to the needs of the poor? --Jim Vitale Prayer Just God, you desire all your children to thrive. Help us to share what we have with those who are in need. Amen.
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