Worship - 20 July 2025

Summary of this week's theme

When we last heard these readings three years ago, I wrestled with the passage from Amos. In Hebrew, there’s a poetic play on words between qayits (summer fruit) and qēts (end), which English misses entirely. To convey this, I imagined God asking, “What do you see, Amos?” Amos replies, “A basket of fruit.” God says, “Exactly - and Israel is a basket case. I won’t put up with them any longer.”

Ripe fruit is meant to nourish. But if it’s not used, it bruises, rots, and returns to the earth. So it is with God’s people. The time is ripe, warns Amos - act now with the life and energy God has given. God’s anger burns not only for injustice and neglect of the poor, but for the wasted potential of love unfulfilled.

Amos, writing in the 8th century BC, poses a timeless question: why do health and happiness so often seem disconnected from wealth? Prosperity alone brings no joy if we fail to share or live with purpose. God’s prophets challenged self-indulgence and injustice, speaking hard truths, often at personal cost.

Jesus followed that prophetic tradition. He also became angry at times - especially when he saw the same issues: indifference, exploitation, and wasted opportunity. But his call begins with listening. Attentive, open listening to God is rare - and hard. A recent experiment showed that many people prefer even physical pain to sitting quietly with their own thoughts.

Which brings us to Mary and Martha. Mary sat still and listened - something Jesus cherished. It wasn’t about pitting her against Martha, but recognising that someone was finally willing to hear him.  We need both: Mary’s attentiveness and Martha’s action. Too much of either leaves something neglected.

Jesus challenges us to go beyond societal roles and boundaries.  He never restricted people’s potential by gender or tradition.  Today, we must also avoid placing limits - on others or ourselves - especially in ministry and spiritual growth.

The basket of fruit is a reminder that our world can be a basket case.  But it’s also a sign that God has planted seeds of love and life in us.  The question is: will we share that fruit?  Or will we let it rot - unnoticed, unused, wasted?  Will we listen to God’s voice - even when it’s small, or difficult, or comes from unexpected places?  Or will we silence the prophets and ignore the truth? 

It’s time to listen - and act.