Monday 13 August 2007

Once again we look at this notion of a sub-version of the dominant version of reality. This as Walter Brueggemann notes takes place in our worship.

...the community offers...an alternative to the claim that oppressive power is forever...an alternative of fidelity to a social vision of comparative greed...an alternative cry to a social coercion of enforced silence.
In every such liturgical utterance, act, and gesture, this sub-version of reality intends to subvert dominant versions, to expose them as inadequate if not false, and to empower the community to re-engage reality according to this sub-version.

Worship does help to bring about a new reality. For example, during a very difficult discussion around the guidelines for pastors in the E.L.C.A. in regard to being gay and lesbians pastors being in committed relationships, we went to worship. The discussion was interrupted for the order of the day - worship. Though there was no intentional tie between the discussion and the texts and sermon for the day, it was as though we were being led onto a higher plain. The sermon focused on the Lord's Prayer in Luke. More importantly, it focused on the story that follows that prayer. It is the story of the man who comes at midnight to ask a neighbor for some food for his guests. The preacher spoke about "now" being the time. It might not be the best time or the most comfortable time but it is time to ask for what is needed. Back in the plenary session prior to worship, this is exactly what was taking place. Those who were being excluded from the full life within the church were asking and they were being told it wasn't a good time...in other words, go away for now and come back at another time. And yet, now was the time...ask...be persistent...don't simply go away. I was sitting there in utter amazement. The worship was guiding the way...bringing life...offering another way to open up the day to that wonderful wind that blows among us and takes us to new places even when we do not plan on such movement.

Connection: Sometimes it takes picking ourselves up and taking part in the liturgy of the church in order to see what a different life is available to us in the midst of the dominant culture that attempts to rule our every move. Even a simple devotional act can begin that re-viewing of all things.

Lord of Life, you offer us another way to be your people when we are so readily pulled into the dominant reality of the life around us. We need your Spirit's guidance so that when we are ready to walk into the grasp of the life within this world, we will be swept up by the story of your Reign that becomes for us a guiding light. Amen.