JUST an Ordinary Farmer

 Many of you will know that I am a long-distance runner. A full marathoner. In the running world, there is a tendency for ordinary runners to depreciate their running. Runners will say:  I am JUST doing a half marathon. I JUST run 10ks. As if either distance was not an accomplishment in and of itself. Because the distance is seen as ‘less than’ a full marathon, somehow it has translated into being not as complete or the best.

 

Amos has been described as JUST an ordinary farmer, a dresser of sycamore trees.

JUST an ordinary farmer in a time when the elites of the neighbouring kingdom were amassing land in unethical business deals and stealing small family farms, turning farmers into serfs and migrant workers.

JUST an ordinary farmer who was concerned -shaken- by the manipulation of systems to grow capital and marginalize the small farmer. Amos was disturbed by the gross inequities between urban elite and the growing number of poor.

JUST an ordinary farmer who JUST, could not stay silent anymore.

 

Amos is JUST the first of 12 minor prophets whose messages are recorded in scripture. Minor means that they were not paid court prophets or from prophet schools, they were JUST ordinary people, called from their ordinary lives, to bear God’s words, addressing people in a specific time and place. Amos is JUST the first, but the others, Hosea, Joel, and company, follow suit – bearing a similar message; how do we know? Because each prophet has incorporated phrases and protest slogans from their contemporaries and the prophets who proceeded them. Bearing God’s word is not JUST about one prophet, or a trained and sanctioned prophet; it is a movement of people plucked from their daily life, passionate and faithful, willing to bear and proclaim God’s word: pointing fingers at power, championing change in injustice practices, preaching a letting go of selfish ways, and casting hope and possibility for a renewed society.

 

It is no accident that the book of Amos begins and ends with mention of an earthquake. An actual earthquake, mentioned right away, places God’s word into a specific point in history; directly speaking into the current events affecting peoples’ lives. God is present amidst the people. The earthquake poem at the end of Amos shakes the listener and reader, JUST one more time; hoping that God’s word shatters hardened hearts, shakes away selfishness, and stirs compassionate ethical living.

 

Some of you will have seen episodes of Columbo, an American crime drama television series. Inspector Columbo is a very observant and astute homicide detective. He always appears in a rumbled tan coloured trench coat, ruffled hair, smoking a cigar, and driving an old car. In his approach he seems to bumble about, asks questions that seem redundant, and continually pesters those involved in the crime. It is in conceivable to those in the story that this seemingly-unput-together guy could solve anything, let alone a homicide. A trademark move, is for Columbo to leave a room, only to come back moments later and say, “JUST one more thing…”

Greenfield, in an article for the New York Times, commented that the suspects in Columbo’s cases are often affluent members of high society and that class conflict is an element of each story.

 

The similarities of Amos, minor prophets, and the character of Columbo help me to consider JUST what or who a prophet is today. As other prophets, Columbo is certainly a character who lives his truth, and by appearance and word does not quite fit in. Seemingly undaunted he speaks words to power and wealth, continually pestering until the truth comes out.

“JUST one more thing,” could be added all the way through the messages delivered by the prophets in scripture. JUST one more thing, God says. JUST one more thing, repent and return to the Lord. JUST one more thing, love your neighbour. JUST one more thing, live with less so others can live with more.

 

JUST one more thing --- in this time and place, in the current events of our day, is God calling you, me, us to bear God’s word; to be prophetic in the sense of pointing fingers at power, championing change in injustice practices, preaching a letting go of selfish ways, and casting hope and possibility for a renewed society.

Like Columbo, can we be JUST ourselves --put on our favourite coat, and interact in the world seemingly undaunted and in events of the day speak words to power and wealth, continually pestering until the truth comes out.

 

I read a quote this week that said, Preachers don’t get to opt out of politics; we can be chaplains of Empire or prophets of God. This is so, for all of us as followers of Jesus: we can be chaplains of Empire – meaning builders, supporters, and worshippers of Empire – saying and doing things to keep Empire alive and well; or prophets of God – meaning advocating for the poor, working against injustice, and bringing God’s kindom to the present moment.

The quote was from Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, an African American minister, professor, and activist. More recently, July 2, 2024, Barber wrote an article, “Good News in 2024: Poor People Are the New Swing Vote.” After describing the current American political situation, mentioning both Trump and Bidon, and dominate news stories of devastation in Gaza … Barber wrote:

Stories of good news in politics seem few and far between. But, as a preacher, I learned a long time ago that you don’t get to the good news by looking away from problems; the good news is most often found right amid trouble.

 

If you scroll through a social media feed and look for ‘good new’ or watch for the ‘heart warming’ story at the end of television new, where is the good news and heart warming happening – in the midst of trouble: creatures are being rescued, people are being fed, a shelter finds permanent housing for a mother and her children, money has been raised for a charity, an organization has opened its doors to meet some need—the stories are about people offering of themselves and serving others and creation; words and deeds that build community and heal the world. Amid trouble – we find a way to be present – in pandemic, hurricane clean up, flash floods, forest fires; in refugee sponsorship, giving to CLWR emergency appeals…

 

Consider the Gospel reading for this morning. Classic prophet story.

John the Baptist, an unsanctioned prophet, dressed in his favourite coat was speaking God’s word directly to the elite – elite specifically involved in political positions. His pointed words and pestering message of repentance to change their ways, made John an enemy of some. He was imprisoned and suffered death for saying ‘JUST one more thing,’ in the hope that those listening would right their relationships and live ethical and faithful lives.

 

As people of God, we don’t get to opt out of politics. Politics is the negotiating of people together to form society. The prophets were sent to speak to Kings and courts and elites; to whole societies, to whole tribes and peoples. God’s word came into current events, into a place where change would affect the social fabric and way of life on a large scale. Likewise, the Gospel of Christ has much to say on how we go about negotiating life together as a community. Jesus’ good news came through stories spoken to power, wealth, religious and political leaders and systems.

 

Bearing God’s word is not JUST about one prophet, or a trained and sanctioned prophet; it is a movement of people plucked from their daily life, passionate and faithful, willing to bear and proclaim God’s word: pointing fingers at power, championing change in injustice practices, preaching a letting go of selfish ways, and casting hope and possibility for a renewed society.

This morning – thanks to Amos, JUST an ordinary farmer—we are given the opportunity to hear and follow a call to be bearers of God’s word - JUST an ordinary people in a movement of prophetic words and deeds.