Tuesday 23 June 2009

Today we move into material on 'the Eros of God' and William Willimon starts this by taking a look at the Song of Songs (3:1-4).

The church has traditionally taught that this Hebrew love song, which at first appears to be the erotic thoughts of two heated adolescents, is actually an allegory of the love of God for his church. Isn't it scandalous that the closest analogy for the love of God in Christ is the infatuated, sensual ramblings of two adolescents consumed with lust - I mean love - for each other? Love is costly, consuming, and fanatical, says the Song of Solomon. Apparently, God has got this thing for us almost like lust. Just before being hung by the Nazis in Tegel Prison, Bonhoeffer wrote that "nothing calamitous can happen" when we are loved by such an "ardent, passionate, sensual love that is portrayed there." Nothing calamitous - as as catastrophic as the Nazis - can happen to the person who has been ravished, claimed, embraced by such salvific love.

In May I used these images of the Song of Solomon at a wedding - costly, consuming, fanatical. What a way to look at love. Not just love between two people...but love between God and all of humanity. Nothing will stop this God from coming after us to embrace us and surround us with a love that will not let us go. This is a powerful image. Many folks don't like the image of lust. Sometimes it can sound a bit overboard. Then again, we can really argue that our God goes a bit overboard to be in a relationship with us that would bring God alongside us and then strung up on the executioner's crucifying beam so that no one of any status would ever be outside of this blessed grasp of God. Within such a relationship, it is quite obvious that we who are pursued like this and embraced like this and loved like this would be shaped by such passionate love. This is the power that can and does change us and transform us and free us to be able to follow in the joyous steps of this wild, loving God. In and through all things, even as Willimon notes -the Nazis, nothing calamitous can happen to us. For this is a once and for all love that endures all things.

Connection: I wish I had this in front of me yesterday when a young man was at the church asking for help. I attempted to assure him of God's never-ending love even when he thought he was worthless and that thinking was bringing him deeper and deeper into self-hatred. We must say this kind of crazy stuff to one another...and act on it.

Lord of Life, when your love and grace shine upon us we are enriched. The day at hand can be the beginning of something new even when we are feeling oppressed by the old. Inspire our hearts to accept this love and to then let it overflow to those around us. Amen.