In the second half of the reading, Amos warns that there should be no misunderstanding about what seeking good and seeking God entails. Yahweh, in the prophet's name, denounces the plethora of feasts and liturgical festivals scattered throughout the year. It is an attack against identifying religion with rituals and liturgical practices. The Christian Testament will formulate the distinction even more definitively in attacking the Pharisees who laid great emphasis on external ritual. John too, in speaking with the Samaritan woman tells her that true worship is not in a particular place but only in Spirit and truth (Jn 4:21-24). Amos puts it in even stronger language: "I hate, I spurn your feasts, I take no pleasure in your solemnities." The institutions were not wrong in themselves; it was the worshippers and the way they worshipped that were wrong. The only real holocaust the Lord wants is that "justice surge like water and goodness like an unfailing stream." These are the prerequisites for acceptance by God. However, it would be quite wrong to deduce from this reading that being engaged in acts of love and justice, we can dispense with all liturgical rites and forget about our Sunday Eucharistic celebration. Our Christian worship plays an absolutely central role in our Christian lives but only when it is in close dialogue with lives based on love, justice and compassion. Each one reinforces the other.