Lent: Day Six
Lent-Day 6
Monday
March 2, 2009
“Foolishness”
Genesis 37:1-11
I Corinthians 1:1-19
Mark 1:1-13
“For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” – I Corinthians 1:18 NRSV
This weekend I listened to someone on the radio who talked about the foolishness of our government in the current attempts to rescue the economy. I was really shocked about some of the attitudes expressed on both sides of the issue. I mention this because I made me think about the most reckless, wasteful, foolish and extravagant person who has ever been, Jesus Christ.
The foolishness of the cross is (at least in part) that the kingdom is open to all persons who will receive it and actively live in it as a present reality. There is no achievement needed just acceptance. How ridiculous! It is too valuable to be purchased, too high to be reached, too vast to be comprehended…so God just gives it to anyone who will have it. Foolishness indeed.
As ridiculous as it sounds, Paul is suggesting that Salvation is not a transaction but a process. Rather than a static one-time decree, salvation is a kinetic and dynamic ongoing invitation and response. This would mean that rather than being passive we are called to be very active. This would mean that we are the recipients of responsible grace rather than cheap or welfare grace.
Like a dance, God plays the music and we respond in dance. We can choose our own moves. The gift of improvisation is eternally ours, but if we want to experience the moment fully we have to bring our steps into the rhythm of the music. We have to discipline our ears to hear and our bodies to move in time with and anticipating the changes in the song so that the separation between the music and the dance disappears and the movement and sound become a part of one another as the Musician and dancers become united in the music. And the band plays on forever.
Lent too is a process. Not separate from but part of the larger processes of Creation, Redemption, and Re-Creation. Lent is when we stop and listen for the music. A time to stop trying to be impressive and flashy with our footwork and just let the music take us where it will. Lent is surrender to the music and a time just to dance because the music is there. At times like these it does not matter what you’re wearing or where you came from or whom you are with. There is only the music. And the band plays on forever.
Yes, the message about the cross is foolishness. But what could be better for dancing fools like us? Today let is meditate on the music that is the foolishness of the Gospel.
Let us pray…
O Lord of the Dance,
Help us to keep step with the rhythm.
Strengthen our steps and lighten our souls.
Help us to enter into a state of sympathetic resonance,
with You
with each other
with the whole of creation
within ourselves.
It is for us that you play.
It is for you that we dance.
Amen.
Amen.
