Wednesday, 5 May, 2004

Sermons and Prayers of Walter Brueggemann in “Inscribing the Text” will be the focus of this series of devotions.



Moses can think of at least four reasons not to undertake such a risky venture as speaking-truth-to-power: (1) he is inadequate; (2) they will want to know who the God is who sends; (3) they will not believe; (4) he can’t talk right. When this reasoning makes no difference, he resorts to begging: Send someone else! But the one who calls and voices truth will not be put off. Truth must be uttered, and finally, in chapter 5, it is: Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: let my people go, so that they may celebrate a festival to me in the wilderness.



Truth must be uttered and…in time it will be. Our God does raises up voices that will step forward as ones speaking-truth-to-power. And yes, it could be you just as it was Moses – filled with excuses and a list of reasons someone else would do better. But truth is not an intricate adventure. Rather it is a bold adventure in which our God will not forsake us when we venture forward to speak. I find it necessary to speak of love when I think about truth. This is not a love that is simply between several people or within a family grouping or national assembly of like-minded people; this is love as expansive as God’s love that cannot be eliminated. There is no stone, cold tomb that has a rock big enough to keep this kind of loving truth buried. Just as Mary was called to tell of the news on Easter, even after the two disciples could only witness to the truthfulness of death and the bodies disappearance (which is only a half truth…no truth at all), we may find ourselves inspired to speak beyond our expectations.



Connections: When that love that is beyond our comprehension presses into this day yearning for truth to be spoken to the powers that tend to speak less than truth, be prepared for its hearing and its speaking. Let your preparation be as simple as daily prayer.



Come, Holy Spirit, and ignite within us the love that seeks to be spread to all the corners of our lives and…then…beyond to all. Amen.