Reading the scriptures for the second week of Advent, I'm torn, as usual, by the whole "fulfillment of prophesy" theme of Messianic claims made by and for Jesus. Earlier this week I was reflecting some on the concept of anointed persons -- of people of destiny. How does God act in history? And is it the same now as in the days leading up to Christ? Does He raise Judges to meet the situation? Does He endow dynasties to bring continuity in their claims of prerogative and duties of noblesse oblige. Does He act according to the aggregate force of myriad individuals motivated by Holy and other spirits. The readings for Advent 2 stress in some respects the dynastic person of Jesus, and in others His emergence from pre (actually proto) dynastic influence. Why proto? A sprout from the root of Jesse -- from the stump of a felled tree. Just as I have several trees in my yard with multiple trunk, all sprouted from the stumps of felled trees. Jesus as Plan B, conceived coincident with the Plan A (David himself Plan B, following Saul?) of dynastic and geographically concentrated Presence of the people through whom God makes testimony of Himself.
That was some awkward language above.... Sheesh. I'll let it stand, though. Perhaps it will introduce sufficiently this implication of 'shoot from the stump of Jesse,' (Isaiah 11:1) that more lucid voices will run with it. I'm certain many already have. But most the commentaries I've viewed simply ignore that language and see Jesus in light of Davidic lineage, not in light of "OK, the intention was good -- but the execution not so. Lets begin again according to the same intention, not the attempt to salvage a lost cause." implied by the literal metaphor (is that an oxymoron?).
Pauls emphasis was on the foreign heritage of David -- the gentile heritage in the roots. The scandalous heritage, in part. The Ruth and Rahab and Tamar part.
But what strikes me in the readings is the present insignificance of a nation whose promise was to be of earth shattering significance. If prophesies are indeed prescience, then in our time, witness the centrality of Jewish claims to a homeland in the Levant and to the origin through which peoples of the Book make their claims of God's favor and revelation. Jewish claims of significance in the face of evidence to the contrary have been vindicated. They've not vanished into the obscurity of assimilation. They've not been diminished as the relics of an object of anthropological patronizing interest. They are ascendant. People do bring tribute and come for judgment. The world predicted, indeed promised, has come to be. And Christianity is incidental, perhaps instrumental to the fulfillment. The argument that Christianity is central, itself the fulfillment -- is what evangelical and institutional Christianity is invested in. It's a weak argument, in my mind.
But this blog entry was started and titled to reflect on how reliable these 'Jesus fulfilled the promises made from the time of the patriarchs' claim are. When I read those claims and then read, in context, the prophesies referenced, I go "Huh!" How do they get that? I wonder what the rabbinical lore of the time was -- the scholars who said "We will know God's anointed by these signs" to which the Gospels and Apostles and Church Fathers responded by providing evidence that such indeed happened in Christ's person and the subsequent life of the Church. What did Jesus show those men as they walked toward Emmaus? Would that convince me, to hear his words? Or would his words seem equally a stretch and snare as those of Paul and the Evangelists?
Bottom line -- I hate this prophetic validation of Jesus's person and office. I hate the miraculous ones. Why, in the face of finding all this purported proof of Christ's divinity not only unconvincing, but repulsive, do I still cling to Christ being not only an anointed person, but the Divine person, God Incarnate? I want to believe. I wish it were true, for reasons I'm sure I'll share as (if) this blog continues. I'm not sure how. The best I can do is not dismiss the evidence presented by others equally eager to make it really be so. I share their eagerness, and find therein my validation. I wish I could share their conviction. I'm sure that convictions I share with others seem equally specious as that which I've dismissed. Why do we mine Christianity for this pearl of great price? And are we even seeking the same pearl? Jesus apostles sought imperial office. Is the pearl I seek of equal vaingloriousness? Does this all too human quest for vain ends produce through grace enduring ends? Speaking of ends, I fly off on the tangent of means. I'll ponder Psalm 72 in light of where this reflection has brought me. Maybe I've got a poem in me, that will make it by the deadline.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Fruitless?
A joke. Ask how she might differ with Jesus, Anita Bryant responded -- Jesus passed a date tree barren of fruit. He could have, maybe should have, magically caused fruit to sprout, as with the loaves and fishes. He would not fruit the date! Whereas, I'd never date a fruit. Though Michelle Bachman married one.
I've not latched onto a sustainable spiritual discipline, one which I eagerly make the time and take the time to practice. I've started attending a weekly bible study breakfast. It's not terribly convenient, but at least one day has the possibility of an early start. Now almost 11, I've yet to get started today. Even this blog is kind of a dilatory exercise at the moment. I mostly dread my days, though once into them, there's never much to dread.
Anyhow, for years I've tried the weekly meditations on the Sunday readings from time to time. False starts each time. Not sure why I'm drawn here, if I can't dwell here, but here I come to visit again. First Sunday of Advent, year A. I've versed the Psalm, another practice I keep coming to visit. Psalm 122, Glad when they said to me, Hey -- Let's go to God's house. This is my visiting. He dwells, more than in most places, in our Canon of Scripture. "God's Word" implies things our culture of evangelical Christianity imputes -- plenary inspiration and such -- that I think profane rather than exalt Scripture. More blasphemy than profanity, I guess, to believe that God composed the Bible. Both, though. But God is not His House. He resides there. Carry on the metaphor, He my have lifted a rafter and nailed some siding, but the dwelling was erected by hands not His own.
I've reflected on my versifying. Pronoun attribution is something that keeps throwing me off in my exegesis. throwing others off, perhaps. Who is 'you' in verse 9? The city? The 'they' of verse 1? Some audience being sung to? In my verse, I made that you, whose well being I seek, to be rivals for God's favor. Beyond a certain threshold (indistinct reference to the city gates of verse 2), rivalry ought cease. Does it ever, though. Why cease? Because the city is commodious -- my take on verse 3. There's abundance to share, not scarcity to divide. Beyond a certain threshold, that is. There's justice, not contest. A place to seek, recognize, and enter. Only to visit, perhaps. But then again, perhaps to dwell.
I was moved to blog upon reading Romans 13:14, "make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." What better Scripture verse for an OA blog -- a powerless over gluttony blog. And at the very beginning of the Church calendar. The beginning of the beginning. Dawn approaches. Start each day with thoughts of gratitude, not gratification. Judith would like that word play --- Judith being an OA mentor. She's quite fond of wordplay.
The Gospel is a challenge to my way of thinking. A symptom of depression, which I've experienced a brief acuity of late (on top of the morning blues chronicity) is sometimes called hypervigilance. I want to read Matthew 24:43-44 in a way other than promoting hypervigilance. My reflections draw me toward an attitude of "God is good. Be careless of outcomes -- God owns those. Care for conduct, for its own sake." A bit of "consider the lilies." Can I appease an angry God? My brand of Christianity says NEVER!. But then, God's anger is nothing for me to fear. Why? Because I've been introduced to a different vision of God than the bearded sky-bully. And if that truly is the character of God, then so be it.
When preparing for the day that must come, what expectations? What preparations? What lay beyond that certain threshold? Do I store food and water and oil and batteries, like the wise virgins? Or do I bring only myself? Despite my investment in that latter proposition, I need this Advent to consider the former -- the need to sustain vigil in the face of disappointment.
I'm drawn in the end toward Eisenhower's great observation --- Plans are worthless, but planning is priceless.
I've not latched onto a sustainable spiritual discipline, one which I eagerly make the time and take the time to practice. I've started attending a weekly bible study breakfast. It's not terribly convenient, but at least one day has the possibility of an early start. Now almost 11, I've yet to get started today. Even this blog is kind of a dilatory exercise at the moment. I mostly dread my days, though once into them, there's never much to dread.
Anyhow, for years I've tried the weekly meditations on the Sunday readings from time to time. False starts each time. Not sure why I'm drawn here, if I can't dwell here, but here I come to visit again. First Sunday of Advent, year A. I've versed the Psalm, another practice I keep coming to visit. Psalm 122, Glad when they said to me, Hey -- Let's go to God's house. This is my visiting. He dwells, more than in most places, in our Canon of Scripture. "God's Word" implies things our culture of evangelical Christianity imputes -- plenary inspiration and such -- that I think profane rather than exalt Scripture. More blasphemy than profanity, I guess, to believe that God composed the Bible. Both, though. But God is not His House. He resides there. Carry on the metaphor, He my have lifted a rafter and nailed some siding, but the dwelling was erected by hands not His own.
I've reflected on my versifying. Pronoun attribution is something that keeps throwing me off in my exegesis. throwing others off, perhaps. Who is 'you' in verse 9? The city? The 'they' of verse 1? Some audience being sung to? In my verse, I made that you, whose well being I seek, to be rivals for God's favor. Beyond a certain threshold (indistinct reference to the city gates of verse 2), rivalry ought cease. Does it ever, though. Why cease? Because the city is commodious -- my take on verse 3. There's abundance to share, not scarcity to divide. Beyond a certain threshold, that is. There's justice, not contest. A place to seek, recognize, and enter. Only to visit, perhaps. But then again, perhaps to dwell.
I was moved to blog upon reading Romans 13:14, "make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." What better Scripture verse for an OA blog -- a powerless over gluttony blog. And at the very beginning of the Church calendar. The beginning of the beginning. Dawn approaches. Start each day with thoughts of gratitude, not gratification. Judith would like that word play --- Judith being an OA mentor. She's quite fond of wordplay.
The Gospel is a challenge to my way of thinking. A symptom of depression, which I've experienced a brief acuity of late (on top of the morning blues chronicity) is sometimes called hypervigilance. I want to read Matthew 24:43-44 in a way other than promoting hypervigilance. My reflections draw me toward an attitude of "God is good. Be careless of outcomes -- God owns those. Care for conduct, for its own sake." A bit of "consider the lilies." Can I appease an angry God? My brand of Christianity says NEVER!. But then, God's anger is nothing for me to fear. Why? Because I've been introduced to a different vision of God than the bearded sky-bully. And if that truly is the character of God, then so be it.
When preparing for the day that must come, what expectations? What preparations? What lay beyond that certain threshold? Do I store food and water and oil and batteries, like the wise virgins? Or do I bring only myself? Despite my investment in that latter proposition, I need this Advent to consider the former -- the need to sustain vigil in the face of disappointment.
I'm drawn in the end toward Eisenhower's great observation --- Plans are worthless, but planning is priceless.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Advent Week 1 -- Psalm 122 DRAFT
Comes the invitation
Then the jubilation
God resides nearby
Past a certain threshold
All may find a foothold
Manifold the cry
(chorus)
I know you not, but you know Him
at least as well as I
And so I yield and wish you well
For God's sake peace I prize
Law taught from the carriage
As if in stone is cherished
Heritage of life
Then unhewn stones encountered
Anointed thrones which tendered
Justice ending strife
(chorus)
Comes the invitation
Reconciliation
When God's truly known
Peace comes not through conquest
Neither of us knows best
That's for Him alone
(chorus)
Past a certain threshold
As within a sheepfold
All find loving care
Those I love the more so
If for you all goes well
And you goodwill do bear
(chorus)
Then the jubilation
God resides nearby
Past a certain threshold
All may find a foothold
Manifold the cry
(chorus)
I know you not, but you know Him
at least as well as I
And so I yield and wish you well
For God's sake peace I prize
Law taught from the carriage
As if in stone is cherished
Heritage of life
Then unhewn stones encountered
Anointed thrones which tendered
Justice ending strife
(chorus)
Comes the invitation
Reconciliation
When God's truly known
Peace comes not through conquest
Neither of us knows best
That's for Him alone
(chorus)
Past a certain threshold
As within a sheepfold
All find loving care
Those I love the more so
If for you all goes well
And you goodwill do bear
(chorus)
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