Martha understood the place that women were expected to fulfill in the first century society. Like Sarah, during the time of Abraham, women were to bear children and cook the meals. They were expected to clean the house, like Martha was doing. They were not to sit at the feet of the master educating themselves, like Mary was doing. Martha demanded that Mary be made to ‘play the expected role that women were to play,’ but Jesus would not go along with the stereotype: “Mary has chosen the better portion and she shall not be deprived of it.”

Women have suffered over the centuries because of gender discrimination, due to the effect of designated roles! All of us suffer because of our prescribed roles. Jesus informed Martha that God has a different plan, a liberating plan, a plan that will empower us and set us free.

Jesus calls us to a different way. A way that is more affirming and encouraging.  Those who do justice will live in the presence of the Lord. 

Justice (to women and men) is life in the presence of God: justice in the home, justice in the school, justice in the marketplace, justice in the business world, justice in the financial world, justice in the church. We shall not be deprived of Justice. This is Jesus’ declaration and commitment. This is the way of God.

And yet, even as we enter into the 21st century, there are problems with gender roles. Discrimination, with its subtle ways, is alive and well. 

When Sue and I purchased a new home, we went through all of the application paperwork. Sue and I file our taxes jointly, we both have professions, and we both have incomes from our professions. And for years, and years, Sue’s taxable income has been larger than mine. Much of my income comes in the form of benefits, and these do not show up in credit ratings. We were shocked when we got back our credit report to discover that Sue’s rating was over 20 points lower than my rating. It’s all because of gender bias.

“Sixty percent of all women work in only ten occupations, and most new jobs for women are in areas with low pay and limited chances for advancement. Thankfully we have our exceptions. We like to think that as we move into the 21st century that we have moved beyond gender discrimination – but we haven’t. Many women suffer discrimination in wages, salaries, job classifications, promotions, and other areas. As a result, they find themselves in jobs that have low status, little security, no benefits, weak unionization, and few opportunities for advancement.

Such discrimination, in God’s Realm, is immoral. And we need to be reminded of, and continue in our efforts to overcome, the effects of gender bias in all aspects of life. Thanks be to God that Jesus is our champion for a life that is set free. 

Last week we read Amos' third vision in which the metaphor of a plumb line was used to describe God's action. The people of Israel were not following God, and God promised not to pass them by, but would bring judgment upon them for their abuse of the poor and the land. 

Today the image of summer fruit (8:1-3) warns that the end is near. We are familiar with the life cycle of a fruit tree that concludes with the maturation of summer fruit. Fruit is satisfying, but it has a short life expectancy. 

The covenant relationship between God and Israel requires the practice of the great commandment to love God, self, and neighbor. There is no doubt in this reading that God is unhappy with the social injustice and exploitation of the poor. God is not happy with the abuse of the environment. This type of neglect has natural consequences. Neglect of the soil leads to famine on the land. But there is also another type of famine that Amos mentions; not a famine of bread, or a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.

Today we are confronted with big issues such as global warming, the distribution of resources equitably among all, and peaceful resolutions to conflict. Why is it that we allow our governments and churches to pay little or no attention to these issues? We enjoy the fruit of the land, but want nothing to do with its toil. We have become preoccupied with our own security, health, and wealth, rather than the health, wealth, and security of the whole. There is, today, a famine of the Spirit. We think of our own security and well being before we think of the well being of others or the whole. Amos calls us to change our ways. Dare to be different…

The basket of summer fruit is a symbol to remind us that time is short… The time for action is the present. The wise use of our natural resources and the sharing of what God has given us is now. Summer fruit does not last. It is time to change our ways, to repent, and to blaze a new course. It is not too late, if we act now.

Amos tells of (prophesies) a time when Israel shall suffer the worst of all possible fates. The world shall fall silent (v. 3). God will give up on Israel. God will no longer speak. There will be a famine of the word. Time and again, when Israel sinned, God came to the rescue by resuming the conversation. Yet Amos tells of the terrible day when the conversation will end. 

Why? Why is God so angry? With prosperity comes responsibility, and God is less than pleased with Israel’s choices. Typically, God's wrath is kindled over injustice and these are specifically outlined in our scripture lesson. The rich arrogantly trample the needy. Everyone is consumed with corrupt business concerns, and the poor become slaves to the rich. The tampering with weights and measures served as a vehicle for economic discrimination as merchants took advantage of the poor.

Today, we are a bit more sophisticated. We create economic systems that enslave the poor; we write tax structures that give the wealthy great advantages. And we have social (security) regulations that keep the poor in poverty. We elect the rich, provide higher education for the wealthy, and enact laws developed by wealthy legislators. Why should it be a surprise to us that the rich become richer and the poor become poorer?

Oh, we wouldn’t do that, would we? Not in the United States? 

Why is it that we allow our financial institutions to charge higher interest rates, and use higher insurance rates for people with lower credit references? And if that’s not all we keep the poor out of the market place by providing lower returns for their investments? The more money you have to invest, the better opportunities you will have for your investment.

When the poor want to send their children to college, we deny them the very loans that they need to supplement the few grants that we give them, because they are a credit risk.

Did you know that if you became injured and are no longer able to work, our government will make it nearly impossible for you to process your claim, until you spend all of your savings, lose your home, and lose nearly everything that you have. Most of us do not have the resources we would need to be able to do what is needed to fight the system. What is ironic about all of this is that we have developed this impossible system in order to deal with welfare fraud. 

This is what we do nationally, just think of all the poverty we can manufacture and the injustices we can do internationally. The World Bank has a long and sordid history serving injustice.

We are called to love God, self, and neighbor. There is no doubt in this reading that God is unhappy with social injustice. There is also no question that God will not pass us by. 

We understand that there are natural consequences to our policies and actions, i.e. global warming, epidemics, illiteracy, terrorism, desertification, displacement, severe weather, natural disasters, and civil unrest. However, I’m not so sure that we understand the spiritual consequences to our practices, i.e. greed, sloth, apathy, and spiritual isolation. 

God will not pass us by.

What must we do? It’s difficult enough to change our behaviors, but now God is expecting that we will also change our thinking and our way of being. It’s easy to participate in the very injustices that we deplore. We will even interpret scripture in ways that perpetuate the problem. And we have been known to develop theologies that promote greed, sexism, and physical or emotional abuse. Spiritual desertification is advanced in our world. 

What must we do?

We are a people that understand that God is not through with us yet. God’s judgments are full of God's grace. God loves us and will not leave us to our own devices. God does not fall silent if we repent and seek the Kingdom’s way.

God sent a courageous, straight-forward prophet like Amos to speak words of truth to us. Amos reminds us that our actions and our very being is important in the grander scheme of things. 

This is a timeless message, symbolized by this basket of fruit. We are given the opportunity to receive the truth, so that we might take a new direction. We are encouraged to live with a new spirit, a spirit that looks to the way that our actions and behaviors affect the poor, the powerless, and the land. 

This is the Key to living with spiritual vitality. And may we always remember this symbolic reminder, that the time to amend our ways is short. Amen.