Stone The Messenger - August 16, 2010

Daily Lectionary for August 16, 2010
Psalms 111
Judges 17:1-13
Acts 7:44-8:1a
John 5:19-29

Psalm 111
A snatch of a phrase from v.5 - "he [God] is ever mindful of his covenant".  Which is a glaring difference between us and God.  God is ever mindful of his convenant.  Guided by his covenant.  Following it's every detail in every corner of creation.  We tend towards awareness of the convenant when we remember a promise that will benefit us.  As God acts the covenant is intrinsically a part of God's ever unfolding activity in history.  As we live it tends to be kind of like a warranty that we tuck in the drawer in case something breaks (that we can hold God responsible for).

Acts 7:44-8:1a
The story of the stoning of Stephen is sad and predictable not based on what I know of his time, but what I know of myself and my time.  Shoot, or stone, the messenger.  Stephen has delivered a lengthy message building on Old Testament history and culminating with the point that the people are "stiff-necked" as they continue to oppose those who would be helpful to them.  The prophets, Christ, and now the Holy Spirit - they have in every instance exercised their right of first refusal.  This is not want they want to hear so they stone him.  Which proves his point, but this was never about the cogency of the argument; it was about trying to shut up legitimate criticism and a call to a new and different way of life.  I've not stoned anyone, but I've repeatedly tuned out difficult critiques not because they were wrong, but because they were uncomfortable.

Last nights episode of "Rubicon" on AMC very nearly made sense to me from beginning to end.  The program follows the activities of intelligende analysts in post 9/11 America.  The program is in no hurry to get anywhere and feels no compulsion to explain itself or make the narrative a little more user friendly.  This can be maddening at times, but it is also welcome.  So much of television requires so little of us, that it is refreshing and a bit of a pleasant challenge to run into a show that expects a little audience brain engagement.