The opening words of today's reading from Amos are a succinct reminder of the need for congruity between faith and moral behaviour. "As you claim": Amos did not theoretically discuss the validity of Israel's claim that the Lord, the God of hosts, was with them. He could easily have done that for he was speaking in Samaria the territory of "the remnant of Joseph". From a Judean perspective the faith of Samaria was not a proper faith and another kind of preacher might have used this as the starting point for his preaching. But Amos was not interested in such a theoretical question. His point was much different. These people claimed that God was with them: this was their faith. Such a faith demanded certain attitudes and values. Part of this faith would have been a memory of the words of God in Leviticus, "You must be holy for I, the Lord, am holy". Therefore Amos makes the generic demand, "Seek good and not evil". This generic demand becomes more internal affecting our attitudes, "Hate evil and love good". Lest this be too abstract, he makes the love of good more concrete in the call to justice, "Let justice prevail at the gate". The last two lines of today's passage again equate goodness and justice.