Monday 29 September 2008

Today we begin of section of Stanley Hauerwas' book "The Peaceable Kingdom" that focuses on the resurrection.

Jesus' death was not a mistake but what was to be expected of a violent world which does not believe that this is God's world. In effect Jesus is nothing less than the embodiment of God's sabbath as a reality for all people. Jesus proclaims peace as a real alternative, because he has made it possible to rest - to have confidence that our lives are in God's hands.

I will include this piece as the beginning of tomorrow's devotion as Hauerwas starts this section of his book with a power paragraph.
When Jesus is seen as the incarnation of our God whose Reign is one of peace, we can expect that the world will not get along with him. Nor will the world get along with the followers of Jesus when that Reign of peace guides us and leads us as we move through our daily lives. I really find the use of the image of sabbath powerful. We can rest and we can step back from the powers of war and violence because we are assured again and again that our "God Reign all contrary evidence notwithstanding" (Douglas John Hall). And yet, as we all know, it is one thing to speak those words of peace and talk about leaning on the everlasting arms and yet it is another to really rest...rest in God alone. We need to continue to carry this confidence with us and to speak those words so that it is the Good News being brought out in the middle of the bad news of the violence of the day - violence that can be in the shape of war, threat, economic crisis, etc.

Connection: I always go back to the simple action of breathing. It becomes a moment in time when we can face the fears and threats around us and be reminded of the Spirit that comes within the shalom of God's Reign. Breathe. I'm always telling myself to breathe.

As you open up your peaceable Reign, O God, you expect us to walk there and find the rest you have promised. Too often we pull back and attempt to secure our lives and then say we will walk with you. Inspire us to let go of all that we want to keep in place for ourselves and begin to enter into the domain of your promises. Amen.