Amos Tradition Up And Down The Centuries

Amos Tradition Up And Down The Centuries

The great German philosopher, Karl Jasper, long ago made the connection between philosophers who arose in Greece and prophets who arose in Israel. What do they have in common? Both the philosophers in Greece and prophets in Israel were very critical of the religion of their time. Through their rational language, the philosophers critiqued the mythology of their time, while the prophets of Israel did it, not so much with the philosophical language, but with the fiery language they claim is from God. With phrase like “Thus says the Lord…” they spoke against the religious and political power establishment of their time. What people had prior to the time of the prophets was praise of the king, the government and the social establishment. Then prophet Amos enters the stage. What is the focus of his criticism? Social injustice! He blasts the nation of Israel for abandoning the law of God. He says that the heart of the law of Yahweh going back to the Books of Exodus, Leviticus and so on comes down to compassion for the poor, the neglected, the widow, the orphaned, and the needy.

The voice of Amos echoes up to all the prophets and in that great figure who happily claims for himself the title of a prophet— Jesus of Nazareth. From Matthew 25 we read, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and not feed you, thirsty and not give you to drink, naked and left you unclothed… I tell you, whenever you failed to do it to one of these least of my brothers and sisters, you failed to do it to me.” That’s the voice of Amos, isn’t it? That’s the voice of Amos now on the lips of Jesus himself. What’s the test, sisters and brothers, of your religious conviction? It is precisely the way you treat those who are immediately and concretely in need. Furthermore, our Lord Jesus also said, “Go and learn the meaning of the adage, I desire mercy (justice), not justice” (Matthew 9:13). Again, that’s the voice of Amos. That’s the voice of Isaiah and Jeremiah, but now on the lips of Jesus. Your sacrifices don’t mean that much to me; what matters to me is justice and mercy for the poor, the hungry, the widow, and the orphaned. 

In the deeply troubling story of Lazarus and Dives, we see Lazarus the poor man completely ignored by Dives the rich man. Even as the dogs lick Lazarus’ sores, the rich man could care less. He was utterly indifferent to him. Again, right back Amos who berated the rich women of Samaria: “Bring us drinks, take care of our needs, give me more food…” but right at their doorsteps, there is someone dying for lack of the basic necessities of life. The Lord’s parable is still startling to us. The treatment meted out to Lazarus is still deeply displeasing to Almighty God. And the test of your religious conviction is how you handle the poor and the suffering. 

Does this Amos tradition come up through the prophets and in Jesus and then in the great Catholic tradition? Absolutely yes! St. John Chrysostom, in one of his famous sermons, echoed Amos when he referred to Emperor’s wife and her revenue as cows— he was echoing the prophet Amos. John Chrysostom like Amos railed against the wealthy of his time who were indifferent to the sufferings of the poor. St. Ambrose of Milan, the great fourth century bishop said, “If you have two shirts in your closet, one belongs to you and the other to the man with no shirt.” St. Thomas Aquinas said “the earth and all its goods belong to God. They are simply on loan to us to be used according to love and justice.” Pope Leo XIII of the 19th century said, “Once the demand of necessity and propriety have been met in your life, everything else you own belongs to the poor.” Dorothy Day said, “Everything you do everyday should be related to the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.” Mother Theresa said, “You must serve Christ in his most distressing disguise in the poor.” And I say, If you are to share what belongs to you, one belongs to you, and the other belongs to the man and woman who has no share.

As he empowers and sends out the Twelve to set things right, so he does to us. We are baptized and commissioned to announce the Word of God by words and by the very actions of our lives. If you notice any suppression, oppression, repression and mistreatment of another person anywhere, especially where you live and work and worship, speak up like Amos. Speak up like Jesus. That’s what the Lord calls us to do. You are called to be a prophet!

— Fr. Marcel Okwara, CSsR