An Indian Understanding of Prophet Amos Today - A summary

1. Prophet Amos is very much relevant even today. The world of today also will not be able to bear all his words. (Amos 7: 10). Amos criticizes the social structures which has favoured the rich and oppressed the poor.

2. He is not a retreat preacher or a politician but a prophet who spoke the inconvenient truth. There was no much time left for Israel. They need radical conversion.

3. There are still Amoses today but the Church which represents the ancient Israel brands these prophets as agents and paid reactionaries seeking money and gain for themselves.

Israel and India
4. A lot of parallel can be drawn between Israel of old and India of today. Whenever a nation achieves economic prosperity it also brings about social inequalities and crimes of injustice against the poor. It happened at the prosperous reign of Jeroboam II and now it is very rampant in India. (India is shining)

5. Christians are a minority in India like the Jews in the ancient Orient. India will accept Christianity only if we preach the crucified Jesus along with our lifestyle that shows solidarity and sympathy with human suffering. It is not the westernization of Christianity that the people hate but the Church’s self –enhancement or glory and its dependence on the money from the west.

Amos on Israel’s social life
6. Amos wants the society to practice justice and righteousness. The greatest crime of Israel consisted in turning justice to wormwood and in casting down righteousness to the earth.

7. The rich take the advantage of the poor and treat the fellow humans as slaves to the extent of selling them for a small pittance like a pair of shoes. They comfortably forget the Law of Moses which repeatedly speaks of justice and righteousness.

Amos and Indian Society
8. The Church instead of standing against the unequal power structures enhances the existing systems and powers for its own advantage. She conveniently preaches meek and non-violent Jesus to support her stand. She is added to the few who enjoy all the benefits of the society without actually deserving it.

9. The Church’s laws on family planning, adultery, pre-marital sex, abortion, divorce, campaign against drinking find their victims only in the poor and the rich have ways and means to escape these laws. Church cannot speak of social disorder because her own house is in total disorder.

Amos against the Cult in Israel
10. People of Israel took shelter in their cultic practices and Amos was faced with the task of undermining the stupid, self security of their faith. God hates feasts, sacrifices, music, devotion etc because he does not crave for any of these. It the manifestation of the cravings of the few rich who abuse the poor to extract money and wealth.

11. Amos asks all of us to stop going to the Church (Do not seek Bethel do not enter Gilgal (5: 4-5), not because it is wrong in itself but devotional practices without practicing justice and righteousness is a humbug.

Judgment on Israel’s religious superiority
12. Israel was boasting them to be the chosen nation. Amos compares Israel with Philistines, Syrians and marginalized Aethiopians.

13. Israel’s life did not reflect the goodness of Yahweh. Instead of taking care of the poor and the weaker classes they became their oppressors.

Pride and cult in the Indian Church
14. Indian Christians recite many prayers, frequent Sunday Mass and sacraments, their family life is good because it is old, and their theologians do not produce many heresies. They cannot take pride in all these, simply because they do not come from the goodness of their lives. The Christians in the west live a far more better life that the Indian atleast by rendering their help (financial and material) to the poorer countries. Their theologians do not produce heresies because they do not think deep enough.

15. The gospel would have been accepted by many more millions of people if the church had returned to its sources. Unless the Church empties herself of all her vain glories and luxuries, it cannot have impact on the people’s lives. Indians are equally if not more culpable than Israel for neglecting the poor and the oppressed.

‘Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of Priests’

I am happy to announce that with the grace of God and with the good will of great people, along with my friend Gabriel I have edited a book on priesthood. Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of Priests a new book on priesthood is released in Kristu Jyoti College on the occasion of the inauguration of academic year. As the year for the priests is coming to a conclusion this book will be a fitting gift for all the priests. Many copies are already sold and very few copies are available at the publications. ‘The Year of the Priests’ has been received very well across the globe primarily because of its cutting relevance. This book titled ‘Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of Priests’ is one such attempt to appreciate the priests and the would-be priests for their generous response to the invitation of Christ to participate in his operative mission of the Father. The books is divided into three various sections namely Metanoia (head), Koinonia (heart) and Praxis (hand) denoting respectively the intellectual, emotional and pastoral aspects of a priest. The book offers variety of topics which are chosen and entrusted to competent people. These articles will interest all the priests since they are short, simple and above all they do address contemporary issues. The book is edited by two students of Theology; Bro. David Maria Selvam SDB and Bro. Gabriel Karunaraj SDB The Contributors: Foreword – Francis Cerada SDB, Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil SDB, Maria Arockiam Kanaga SDB, Fr. Dominic Veliath SDB, Fr. Paul Puthnangady SDB, Joe Mannath SDB, Thomas Anchukandam SDB, Stanislaus Swaminkannu SDB, Ivo Coelho SDB, Alexander John SDB, Jose Kuttianimattathil SDB, Thomas Panakezaham SDB, Matthew Maruvathrayil SDB, Thomas Punnapadam SDB, Patrick Antonyraj SDB, Anthony Lourdusamy SDB, Gabriel Karunaraj SDB and David Maria Selvam SDB. Let us put our heads, hearts and hands together to rediscover the authentic meaning of our priestly ministry and thus prove truly to be faithful pastors, priests and prophets, drawing strength and inspiration from the faithfulness of Jesus Christ our High Priest.