23 March 2006

Walter Brueggemann writes of two interpretive strategies of the command of God in "The Covenanted Self."

The first is that the commands of God are the disciplines essential to the revolution that is Yahwism. Every serious revolutionary movement requires exacting disciplines of its adherents... A revolution has no chance of success unless all of its adherents are singularly committed to the vision and the project and are willing to play their assigned role with unquestioning reliability and responsiveness.
The revolution to which the biblical community is summoned is to enact in the world of social affairs a new practice of social relationships marked by justice, mercy, and peace, which touches all of life. In order to engage in such a practice, all those committed to this revolutionary vision are expected to enact the daily requirements concerning self toward God and self toward neighbor in order to "advance the revolution."

In other words, if this is who we say we are, watch how our words become our actions. It takes discipline to have our lives reflect the vision of God's Reign. Discipline is not a bad word. And yet, discipline has room for humor and the reality of how well we fall short of goals. At the same time, the discipline gives us direction and guidance and encouragement. There would be no need for a discipline if it was not something that we could put into practice. No matter where we might be, there is always a more complete expression of God's Reign waiting for us to enter. On the other hand, it is important to remember that the Reign of God is constantly breaking into our lives and bidding us to walk within its domain. We do not make it come. It comes upon us and, as I like to say, it pulls us or will woo us into its life. I suppose it is good to call it a revolution because it really does bring us into life we would not receive as we follow along the ways of the powers of this world.

Connection: The revolution is already here. Today will simply be another day in which we are invited to enter its dynamic life. The part that takes discipline is that we may not want to go where it takes us or be who it is making us.

Come, Lord God, and make us into the living presence of your glorious Reign. Let justice and mercy and peace be the building blocks of our day as we greet your coming among us. Amen.