Amos 5:21-24
I despise your feasts, and abhor your meets,
You can burn your beasts, and char your wheats,
Not sincere in the least, they are empty feats;
And your musical chorus does nothing for us;
Instead, right injustice! treat all with true kindness!
So my Love flows to all, like a strong waterfall!
Have you noticed how festivals and ceremonies seem to steadily escalate in ostentation, while their meaning may be drowned out in a competition of showiness or commercialism? I’m thinking of Christmas, Easter, All Hallows' Eve, Mardi Gras, not to mention secular events. In a conversation about the folderol surrounding my grandson going to prom, a friend quipped: “Proms are turning into weddings and weddings are turning into coronations!” Obviously, this trend was a concern at the time of the Reformation, but was addressed by the Biblical Prophets long ago; most especially the hypocrisy of performative “worship” while neglecting social justice and acts of reconciliation, love, and mercy toward others, especially the down-trodden.
Jesus quotes the same sentiment as expressed in Hosea 6:6, when He says to Pharisees who question his fellowship with publicans and “sinners”: “Go learn what this Scripture means: ‘I desire mercy not sacrifices’; for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Mtt 9:12) Which brings us to the opportunities of Lent: a time of self-examination and repentance, both individually and corporately. For just as our belief in the “Communion of saints” recognizes that the gifts of the Spirit are gifts to benefit the whole Church, so also, must we corporately own up to sins that characterize the culture in which we live. This was the harsh message of Amos speaking truth to power in the time of Jeroboam II, at a time when the economy was good, but corruption, exploitation, greed and injustice were unacceptably prevalent.
It was Jesus’ message too. But he also emphasized that reconciliation begins at home, as in Mtt 5:24 “first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift at the altar”.
When we get past “Fat Tuesday”, Lent seems to be the season least polluted by commercial exploitation, but at times has been subject to competition of self-denial. Perhaps we can focus more on ways to de-emphasize all forms of competitive ostentation, and re-emphasize humble service in commitment to advancing the Tzedakah and Mishpat of Amos 5:24.
Prayer:
"Yet forty days.." did Jonah warn,
Repentance halted all the harm.
For forty days rain from above;
Then rainbow's end and peaceful dove.
Christ's forty days to fast and pray
Did send the Temptor on his way.
When days are "longing," we say "Lent;"
In prayer, as always, we repent.
-Mark Currie
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