25 October 2006

Again, simple obedience in "Discipleship."

Jesus' concrete call and simple obedience have their own irrevocable meaning. Jesus calls us into a concrete situation in which we can believe in him. That is why he calls us in such a concrete way and wants to be so understood, because he knows that people will become free for faith only in concrete obedience.

In a footnote from another writing by Bonhoeffer it reads, "The rich young man receives the commandment in order to do it (sell!). Do it. Follow by doing it. Follow by taking the step toward that to which we are being called. We are being called into the Reign of God and the life that is within that domain. We are called to do it - sell - move - give - step aside - step into - heal - stand alongside...die. This is a call into something as concrete as the the day unfolding here even as I write. The only way we can start or stop is to be free from what may be the powers that are trying to move us and control us and seduce us into a way that is foreign to the simplicity of that call to "follow." It is a simple call that demands everything of us - our whole world changes and our vision is changed as dramatically as when I put my glasses on in the morning and I can see that the red blob of light on the dress is really the time of day. We are called into that time - that moment. It is something quite concrete and it calls me into some kind of concrete action. Everyday, for a person of faith, that action is that which flows from our baptism. Now...we will see how that unfolds as our Lord pulls us into the day.

Connection: What a strange thing it is to have our lives be the next scene within the unfolding of God's Reign . And yet, today is just that. Faithfulness is never a mind journey alone. It is always a real journey that shapes each and every step we take.

Come, Lord, Jesus, be our guest and take hold of our lives that today we will again find in your promises life eternal...life incarnate. Amen.