As I prepare to go again to church today ( I did a vigil hour at 4am... bleh) I thought to myself; ya know. I really ought to review the Last Seven Words of Christ before I go to the service at Trinity tonight. I was also thinking about the blog and Dietrich Bonhoeffer's writings early this vigil morning as I prayed and meditated in our quiet and beautiful sanctuary with only the cross illuminated. So to expedite these chapters; basically they address their titles: Single Minded Obedience, Discipleship and the Cross, and Discipleship and the Individual.
Let's start with that obedience thing. This morning I had a marvelous ride with Jobi, my horse trainer's intern, and we chit chatted about a lot of things. But what struck me most about our ride was how careful and obedient she was being to Paul's wishes with the horses, and how specific she was to every thing that he would have wanted her to do had he been there. I remember my Dad telling me at one point in my life, if you work for someone imagine that the job is your business and you are the boss. Work as if they (or you) were right by your side and everything that you do reflects that. You will go far.
In a nut shell this is what chapter three is about. The first call to discipleship calls for obedience in a dogged, single-minded way. Humans have a way, particularly with regards to church and the call to Christ, of saying....yeah, well, OK, but let's get real. Let's deal with reality people. I understand what I am supposed to do, but here is what I can realistically offer. This chapter calls us on the ego of humans, and argues that as disciples we can not rationalize ourselves out of obedience.
Chapter four however, is about the cross. Now I do not know about you, but the cross is where I really have a weakness with regards to my relationship with Christ. Bonhoeffer addresses the cross head on here as a call to suffering. I mean seriously. I am sitting in the sanctuary today in wee early hours thinking about that. I know full well what suffering means. Everyone wants God to be good, to be gracious, to be loving....but no one wants (me especially) to address the cross and what it really means. "A cross is waiting for you" (p 89) I have 'ever forever' loved ones who truly understand this phrase and I have observed it at a bystander, but I will be honest. I have not matured enough in my faith to understand Dietrich in this chapter. Here is the worst of the spot...Every time I take communion I think of my loved ones that I have witnessed being my heroes of unbelievable suffering, and I still resist. "Only when we become selfless, unaware of the pain of our own cross, are we ready to bear the cross for the sake of Christ."
Chapter five. Christ calls us personally. I was thinking about our youth of today when I read this chapter. How can they ever hear the call, or talk to Christ? They are constantly plugged in, wired up, and never ever without an earpiece to an alternate reality. Twitter, Instagram, Snap Chat. You name it. This is reality. Is there a God app for these poor kids? Just asking. This chapter suggests that discipleship is complete attachment to Christ, and that going through the motions, following the law is simply not enough. We must commit. We must know Christ, and our reward is fellowship and peace.
Well. Can you have a Happy Good Friday? Probably; in today's world. I am off to the Last Seven Words of Christ service. When I see you next we will talk about The Sermon on the Mount...the Beatitudes....the Sermon on the Plain. Happy Good Friday All! ;-)
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