20 January 2006

Again from "Hopeful Imagination."

Babylon has been the great enemy and threat. But two generations later, in the time of 2 Isaiah, the imperial threat had become the great seduction. Babylon had become home. Jeremiah had urged that it had happened. These Jewish families...had entered into the public life of Babylon, with some economic successes, no doubt with educational and cultural attachments. Jewish rootage and identity were still significant. There was still a general liturgical longing for Jerusalem. But such a general liturgical longing is not easily translated into the concrete act of going back home from the relative security of a well-defined Babylonian situation to the shabby, chancy Judean situation.

The political and cultural realities of the day can become quite seductive. Even people who have well defined boundaries that are meant to lead them into a life that is focused around a contrary community will find themselves taking on the appearance and the attitudes of the life of the land. That is not all bad. In fact, one way that we respect those around us and their worth is that we learn to live with them. We do not separate ourselves as though we want to avoid any "contamination" from their kind. Rather, it is good for us to enter into the culture and the society and be a good part of the context. On the other hand, that does not mean that we become like that which is all around us and let go of our foundation...our rock. Too quickly and too easily, we can find ourselves lost in love with that which is all around us and no other story but that of the powers around us begins to win our hearts and our lives. The Jewish community in Babylon had to work at keeping itself grounded to the story of the faithfulness of their God even as they participated in the life within Babylon. Such a grounding was needed in order to hear and understand the voice of the prophet who would call them home.

Connection: Look around and we will see that there is much about the powers of the day that have become a part of our lives. We need not become partners with such power. We need not attempt to become one of the powers. Rather, we are called to be faithful to our God who promises to raise up a people in any place and in any time. Why try to be a part of the powers that continually try to seize the day when we are handed the day by our God who bids us to come home.

Liberating Lord, we are so easily persuaded to turn from you and find our place among the powers of the day. As we become good citizens of this world remind us also of the home you have given us and the life that we share no matter where we live and who might be our neighbors. Teach us again to be like the loving presence you are for us in all times. Amen.