Eliza Doolittle, in MY FAIR LADY, sings to her would-be suitor, “If you’re in love, then show me!” Not one for empty professions, the street-wise lass expects a lover to live out their otherwise pretty words. Sunday’s scriptures tell a bit about GOD’s expectations in the same line. Are you walkin’, or are you just talkin’?
Amos is always an enigma, both then and now. What meaneth this upstart who dares to hold a holy plumb-line to the Kingdom of Israel? (7:7-9) Amos confronts all of us who praise God with the actual expectations which come with our professed devotion. Amos’ message was against exploitation and chicanery (self-idolatry), and calls for justice and righteousness to “roll down like water”.
Sometimes I get bogged down in Paul’s long sentences. But don’t rush through the Letter to the Colossians, because there’s lots of good stuff there. Especially reference his prayer that believers there “may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.” (1:10) “Bearing fruit”, then, is a natural extension of “grow[ing] in the knowledge of God.” Fruit is always pretty–but it’s more than a still-life because there’s a Holy Essence inside!
St. Luke remembers how an expert in Jewish legalism asked Jesus about What to DO to gain eternal life. “Well, how do YOU read it?”, Jesus asked. (10:25 ff) The law teacher gives the textbook response, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart…soul… strength… mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” That’s what the words say, in Deuteronomy and Leviticus — but who IS the neighbor? So Jesus tells the Good Samaritan parable: those who subscribed to The Law ignored the victim, whereas that (shudder!) Lawless Samaritan actually did something for him. What does God expect?
I ponder a lot about the Frank Sinatra dilemma. You remember it: do?be?do?be?do? Always an introvert, I’d rather curl up in a sanctuary with my Faith to the wall. But travelers to God’s Kingdom are expected to flesh out their worship & devotion with signs of mercy and kindness as they journey.
God Bless Us, Every One H B King
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