Towards Sunday, January 15, 2016

Reading:  Isaiah 49:1-7
(Israel saw -- or at least, had seen itself as God's chosen people, created and called by God to live in intentionally just and peaceful ways in the world, as a light or a model kingdom to other peoples.  But now they are defeated and are living in exile, and to their mind they have failed.  Into this severe self-judgement, the prophet brings good news: that it's not their power and glory -- not their greatness as a kingdom, but their faithfulness in trusting God and in living out God's ways of justice and peace, regardless of apparent success or failure, that makes them a light to others and fulfills their calling as God's servants in the healing of all the world.)

One of the fundamental evils to which Donald Trump's spirit falls easy prey is the quick, intentional and even malicious division of the world into winners and losers, and the pathological need to be a winner -- even more, to be seen as a winner, in order to justify and feel good about himself and his country.

I think one reason his openness to this particular evil bothers me so much is that I also fall prey to it in my own littler ways, and I have come to know how destructive it can be of self, of others, and of life -- how impossible it makes any kind of right relationship.  Because how compassionate, just, loving or even peaceful can I be, when I need to win, be first, and be the great one?

It's exactly the opposite of how God has created and called us to be -- both within ourselves and with others.  

But how often does this pathology of being Number One, to be great, and to be admired infect even the way we understand our calling to be God's people?

Israel saw itself as created and chosen by God to be a light to the world -- to live in the world in such a way that they would lead other people to know and follow God's ways.  At some point they came to imagine they could do this best (maybe even only) if they were a great kingdom among (and even above) above other kingdoms, and had sufficient power and glory to attract other people to them and make other people want to be like them.

What a blow to their faith when their kingdom was defeated -- and not only defeated, but completely destroyed and cast down, with the people themselves dispersed and scattered into exile. 

But also what a painfully graced time to be able to grow beyond their addiction to power, greatness and superiority, towards a deeper, more healthy and more life-enhancing way of being a light to all nations -- by living in intentionally right relationships regardless of (and maybe even especially because of) their weakness, brokenness and unattractiveness as a people.  

The painful but deeply wonderful lesson Israel learns is that it's the persistent rightness of their relationships, and not their victory and superiority as a kingdom that will lead others to know and follow God's ways and make them a special people on the face of the earth.  

So what's the question as I -- as we, journey towards worship of God on Sunday?

I don't know exactly. 

And it surprises me a bit to be able to say that.  

I know the desire to be the one to identify the best question for us all to consider.  And maybe the point of growth is that I recognize I can't -- and that I don't have to.