29 March 2005

We continue from "The Prophetic Imagination" by Walter Brueggemann.

A third aspect of what Brueggemann says is a part of Jesus' radical criticism.
Jesus was willing to eat with the outcasts (Mark 2:15-17), which threatened the fundamental morality of society. The outcasts were the product of a legal arrangement that determined what was acceptable and unacceptable, clean and unclean, right and wrong. Crossing over the barrier of right and wrong implied that in the dispensing of mercy the wrong were as entitled as were the right, and therefore all meaningful distinctions were obliterated.

This is not just a description of what was in the day of Jesus. It is what we have all around us today. Jesus went against the rule, both religious and - you could then say - legal, when he sat down with those with whom you were not to have such close and intimate contact. He did it. It was not right. It was not considered the proper religious thing to do. You could lose friends over this. You could lose your right to associate with some people. You could be push off a cliff and stoned. JUST FOR EATING WITH PEOPLE! But outcasts are outcasts and we need to keep that in mind, right!?! I don't know about you, but I keep wanting say, "I follow Jesus." I want to keep saying we have had too long of a history of trying to "keep clean," "keep ourselves to ourselves" and then even to use our children in the argument by saying what will happen to them if we associate with such people...what will we tell them!?! We tell them "we follow Jesus!" Nothing can be so powerful than to lead our children into the way of Jesus. It will not be easy. It is tough enough for adults to walk in the way of the Good News. It is tougher to be a parent and watch as your own children begin that walk...even when we will not. Don't talk about morality in our day unless you have spent some time eating and being friends and companions with those people the world would like to forget but our God always keeps close to God's bosom.

Connection: I'm not sure. Maybe this is too far for us to go. Maybe we will not follow Jesus today. Maybe there will be other ways that will be more popular with those around us. I'm not sure. What do you say?

Carry us, O God, into your promised land in which you preside over all the tables at the feast that is set within the realm of your glory. Though we would usually try to stay behind and settle for what we can make of the day for ourselves, you continue to hold up the banner of your love and stretch it out for all to see. We give you thanks for you bountiful grace. Amen.