| Here is a look at that God that was known in the ancient Near East. Brueggemann uses material by Morton Smith. The paradigm operates with these convictions: 1. There is a "High God" who is the generative power behind all natural and human phenomena. 2. That High God is active in the world, in nature, in history, and in society. This activity eventuates in a moral order in worldly reality, a moral order sanctioned through the legal and administrative organs of society. 3. That High God is presented in terms of natural and human analogues, so that "anthropomorphic" articulation is already present in the "common theology." 4. The High God is known to be powerful, just, and merciful. The divine power is in the service of justice. It is evident that the crisis of theodicy is inchoately present from the outset in this common theology. 5. This High God is peculiarly and definitively connected to a particular people or region. Thus the ambiguity of "universal" and "particular" is present from the outset. this also means that some contractual notionof covenant is definitional for the common tradition. 6. The High God is interpreted and represented by human agents who claim authority to voice divine purpose and will. Do you know this God? I find this to be good to see all lined up as it is here. When we begin to use exclusive language about 'our' God, we would do well to stand still and listen to these ideas that have been handed down to us through time - not all from one 'pure line' of tradition. Rather, things are gathered together. It is as though a part of our humanity longs for such a being - such an existence - such a reality. What we see everyday is not this reality of the High God. Often in our Eucharistic Prayer, I begin with one of the traditional ways to call on God. It is "Most High God" or "God Most High". I recently read that this is used within the Hebrew and Christian scriptures to show that in the midst of the language and visions of "High God" there is this "Most" that is a new story. Connection: Our words can be such division makers. Even before we talk to one another, we are setting up a pecking order of who is best - biggest - most. O God, who was and is and is to be, be with us now and open our hearts to your way. Amen. |
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