Brueggemann writes that there are 'two commands (that) epitomize the best of Israel's counterpractice." These are from the commands at Sinai - today is #2. Second, the first specific law in the Sinai utterances after the decalogue, given in Exodus 21:1-11, concerns "the year of release," whereby Israel is enjoined to engage in a countereconomics that willingly cancels the debt of neighbors and permits the indebted to rejoin the economy as a full and viable partner. It is this neighborly act of debt cancellation that is the taproot of all Jewish and Christian notions of forgiveness. Forgiveness is cancellation of debts in every zone of existence; this countercommunity takes as its foremost social characteristic the refusal to exploit the poor, the refusal to get even, the refusal to hold grudges, the refusal to exact vengeance. All of these practices, to be sure, are at the core of the pharaonic enterprise, but Yahweh authorizes and summons otherwise. Everything gets released. It is a new beginning. That seems to be what this covenant community is all about - new beginnings - life again - refreshment - liberation - endless possibilities for life. And yet, "the year of release" has always been something about which we talk but simply write it off as something that was not really meant to become a part of "real" life - for who would live like that!?! Here is where I go back to Jesus. He has "release" written all over his actions and words. Unfortunately, release is not what the established order wants - do we!?! The Prophets were masterful at pointing out how far the people had gone astray from the way of life that was handed to them by the God of Exodus. But to allow for a "year of release" - let alone a few moments of release - is a strange journey that is not only difficult to grasp, it is also unheard of in our everyday experiences in the world of empire and pharaoh. Connection: At the end of the day it would be interesting to take note of there was a time in the day when we really were able to cancel debt - offer release to others and even ourselves. Lord God, you bid us to come and walk and live in the land of forgiveness. It is there that we will come to see the bountifulness of your Reign and realize what joy you bring to life as we are your people. Remind us to forgive - and then again. Amen. |
No comments:
Post a Comment