Welcome to Brothers and Sisters, the weekly meetup for prayer* and community at Daily Kos. We put an asterisk on pray* to acknowledge that not everyone uses conventional religious language, but may want to share joys and concerns, or simply take solace in a meditative atmosphere. Anyone who comes in the spirit of mutual respect, warmth and healing is welcome.
For the last few weeks, I've been sitting with these two passages:
The word of the Ineffable came to Abram in a vision, saying,
"Fear not, Abram,
I am a shield to you;
Your reward shall be very great."
Then the Ineffable said to him, "I am the Breath of Life who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to assign this land to you as a possession." And Abram said, "O Lord God, how shall I know that I am to possess it?" The Ineffable answered, "Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young bird." He brought the Ineffable all these and cut them in two, placing each half opposite the other; but he did not cut up the bird. Birds of prey came down on the carcasses, and Abram drove them away. As the sun was about to set, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a great dark dread descended upon him.
- Genesis 15:1, 7-12
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Ineffable appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am El Shaddai. Walk in My ways and be blameless"
- Genesis 17:1
These two quotes describe the ways in which God prepares Abraham for the covenant that is the basis for the Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
They are very different approaches to holiness.
In one, visions, sacrifices, sleep, and dread open the soul to new insight.
The other anticipates the prophet Micah in showing a seamless unity of faith and justice:
What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
6:8
Where is your vision?
Where is your dream?
What path lies before you in the quest for justice?
What fight is yours this week?
What inner temptation do you resist?
What outer injustice do you name?
What demand induces dread?
What Spirit gives you the strength to meet it?
What possession must you give up?
What task must you take up?