This "new way of being Christian" is a silent coup against the Logos. Bonhoeffer replaces the absolute Commandment with a situational Kairos, sacralizing sin as "responsibility." It’s not a revelation; it’s metaphysical rebellion.
…”These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before his chariots; and he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his courtiers. He will take one-tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and his courtiers. He will take your male and female slaves, and the best of your cattle[a] and donkeys, and put them to his work. He will take one-tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves; but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”
Interestingly, the above is Samuel quoting the Lord who had said to Samuel:
“Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.”
So, God has Samuel tell the people that rejecting the Lord as your king will lead to the your being ruled by an earthly king and that experience is then foreshadowed.
Consider the message for us today! What resonates in our experience? What might we do about the experience? To whom shall we turn?
Is asking questions of your readers or listeners diverting from the demands of letting God’s words do all the work?
Peace be with you!
This "new way of being Christian" is a silent coup against the Logos. Bonhoeffer replaces the absolute Commandment with a situational Kairos, sacralizing sin as "responsibility." It’s not a revelation; it’s metaphysical rebellion.
Brilliant!
Friday, January 16, 2026
CYCLE A
ORDINARY TIME
1ST WK OF ORDINARY TIME
Daily Reading
First Reading
1 SAMUEL 8:4-7, 10-22A
…”These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before his chariots; and he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his courtiers. He will take one-tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and his courtiers. He will take your male and female slaves, and the best of your cattle[a] and donkeys, and put them to his work. He will take one-tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves; but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”
Interestingly, the above is Samuel quoting the Lord who had said to Samuel:
“Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.”
So, God has Samuel tell the people that rejecting the Lord as your king will lead to the your being ruled by an earthly king and that experience is then foreshadowed.
Consider the message for us today! What resonates in our experience? What might we do about the experience? To whom shall we turn?
Is asking questions of your readers or listeners diverting from the demands of letting God’s words do all the work?