A hard, deep call to obedience

Yesterday’s poem, HEAVY NETS, spoke about the risk of hearing and responding to Christ’s call to radical discipleship.

Today’s poem is really another prayer that explores this same theme further. It’s by the well-known biblical scholar and author Walter Brueggemann.

A HARD, DEEP CALL TO OBEDIENCE

You are the God who makes extravagant promises.

We relish your promises
of fidelity
and presence
and solidarity,
and we exude in them.
Only to find out, always too late,
that your promise always comes
in the midst of a hard, deep call to obedience.

You are the God who calls people like us,
and the long list of mothers and fathers before us
who trusted the promise enough to keep the call.

So we give you thanks that you
are a calling God,
who calls always to dangerous new places.

We pray enough of your grace and mercy among us
that we may be among those
who believe your promises enough
to respond to your call.
As did Jesus,
who embodied your promise
and enacted your call.

Amen