Since Pentecost our Old Testament lessons have reminded us of the exploits of the early prophets Elijah and Elisha. When the kings of Israel abandoned their single-minded loyalty to the God who liberated the slaves from Egypt, God raised up prophets to indict the nation with wrongdoing and call its leaders back to the covenant.
The first of these great early prophets was Elijah. We heard him accuse the king of six counts of failure to keep God’s law. In the First Count King Ahab gave approval for the people to appeal to gods that were not gods. Worshiping idols introduced by his foreign queen, Jezebel, was the Second Count. Count Three accused King Ahab of covetousness, being an accomplice to witness tampering (Count Four), and the murder of Naboth the Jezreelite (Count Five), in order to confiscate (steal) Naboth’s vineyard for the king’s pleasure (Count Six).
Elijah’s successor Elisha added Count Seven against the kings for thinking the God of Israel was too small. When Naaman, the acclaimed leader of the Syrian army, sought to be healed of leprosy, the king of Israel failed to consider that prophets were other than court yes-men and God other than his divine armor-bearer.
Last week the prophet Amos added Count Eight. God builds with strict standards, but God’s plumb line showed that by every measure Israel’s carefully constructed edifice was fabricated out of lies and would fall.
Today Amos brings Count Nine. A basket of summer fruit, instead of being a tasty harvest has been left to rot and mold. Business transactions have been corrupted by greed. The poor have been disregarded for economic gain. The people have been robbed of joy. Therefore, calamity shall befall Israel. Famine will dry up not only food and water but the word of God as well.
For weeks now the evidence of a failure to follow God’s law has been displayed for a jury to weigh on the scales of justice and bring forth a verdict. Nine Counts of misconduct have brought judgment on king and people. As prophet and prosecutor, in last week’s closing argument Amos declared, Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land (Amos 7:17). The land he spoke of was the land of promise in which Israel dwelt, the fertile ground from which God’s bounty of faith and love and hope was to grow, bearing the abundant fruit of joy and blessing all people desire. In Israel’s spiritual storehouse the nations of the world were to find their true end. But not now said Amos. The time is surely coming, says the Lord God, when I will send a famine on the land; not a famine of bread, or a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord (Amos 8:11).
Fast forward 750 years. Israel has been trampled underfoot by three great empires, and now is under the boot of the fourth. Jesus of Nazareth left Galilee having set his face toward Jerusalem preaching the kingdom of God (Lk 9:51). Along the way we saw him confronted last week by a student of the Law of Moses who wanted to know what he must do to inherit eternal life (Lk 10:25). The man had the right answer to the question Jesus put to him about what the Law had to say, but the man lacked a compassionate heart. Though mercy described the Samaritan’s actions, the lawyer could not imagine joining neighbor and Samaritan in the same breath.
Now, typical of Luke’s writing style, an example involving a man will be followed by one involving a woman. Last week’s parable of the Good Samaritan is followed today with the story of Mary and Martha. When paired together two interesting features emerge. In the previous story the lawyer wanted to justify himself, and among the women Martha argues with Jesus to obtain what she thinks is right. The despised Samaritan does the merciful thing, and maligned sister chooses the right and best thing to do.
But that is only half what Luke wishes his reader to understand. A larger issue goes all the way back to Amos’ prophesy of a famine of the word of God. Israel’s sin was greater than the transgressions of the law enumerated in Counts One through Nine above. Yes theirs was a failure of will, but even more theirs was a failure of love for the Beloved who called Israel into being. You see they possessed the right instruments and carefully guarded God’s word. Before the Temple was destroyed and they were taken into exile the tablets of the Law written by the hand of God was safely kept in the Ark of the Covenant behind the curtain in the Holy of Holies. Then during the exile the rabbis having carefully memorized every word of the text recited it and studied it, and afterwards the scrolls of the Law were read every Sabbath when the community gathered. Words, yes they had words. But it was as though God’s word had not gotten from their heads to their hearts.
So when Jesus came into the home of his friends Mary and Martha we find the sad old story repeating itself. Martha, who cleaned the house for her expected guests, purchased the groceries and slaved in the kitchen, could not withhold her irritation. Her sister Mary was neglecting her duties of hospitality. Instead Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet just like one of the male disciples. This behavior was an insult to Martha’s friend and revered guest. Mary’s behavior dishonored the disciples by assuming she is something when she is not. And Mary betrayed her sister.
The pairing of this story with the behavior of the good Samaritan may not seem obvious but it has to do with doing the will of God. Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things (Lk 10:41) is another way of saying, “You have all the words of family, business and church tradition, but your heart has not been touched by God’s love and mercy.” Then Jesus makes clear what the standard is. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her. She has given herself unreservedly to the work of the kingdom of God. The word of God abides in her heart and she desires to grow in that fertile soil and do the will of God. Mary is a worthy disciple.
We may respond, “That doesn’t found fair.” Martha gets chewed out for following the traditions of hospitality common to her people. “Jesus is coming down on Martha too hard. It’s unjustified.” But this isn’t Aesop’s Fables where morality is commonsense. There is a higher standard. Everything Jesus teaches is focused on the narrow door and the straight path (Lk 13:24; Mt 7:13,14). Luke wants his reader to know there are many good things but they must never be confused with the best. Seek first the kingdom of God and all that you need will be provided (Lk 12:31).
The Old Testament prophets would say that the Law was well known, so much so that the best game in town was finding loop holes. It probably didn’t start that way, but when a person needs some advantage to stay competitive in the marketplace one thing leads to another. Suddenly “the guy with the most toys wins” becomes the measure of one’s success. The prophetic words are plentiful, even challenging the frequencies of secular radio and TV programming. But has the heart turned to God to render it capable of hearing the word of the Lord, or have the east winds scorched the earth leaving behind a dust bowl, sucking the life out of all flesh?
Deluged with information we are becoming a culture unable to prioritize what is most important. Instead whatever is expedient rules our actions. In the same way, with so many opportunities for entertainment it is difficult to decide what we ought to do. Is gathering for Christian worship and fellowship just another good, or does it have priority over other activities in the week? Is giving to Christian mission and ministry a good thing only when I feel flush, or is it an obligation we’ve chosen that arises from our love for God and our commitment to serve God’s kingdom work on earth? We’ve heard the words, but have they moved from our heads to our hearts? Is there a famine within each of us that needs the refreshing westward breezes of God?
Happily judgment is not God’s last word. Amos knows it and in the last chapter of his writings said, Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it. I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel (Amos 9:13,14). God’s last word is love and mercy. Go and do likewise, Jesus said to the lawyer for that is the measure of the life of God. The Lord would have Mary and Martha know and live by that word of love. Mary chose the better part. Come follow Mary’s example of disciplined attention to Jesus’ call to love. Do as she did.
