and so we dance…

A European Hip-Hop Artist, Stomae; has a well-known, if older song in French, Alors on Danse. It has a catchy beat. The Lyrics translate more or less as: life is tough…Alors on Danse. So we Dance.

This isn’t far from the popular point of view of applied Biblical Studies for the last 30 years. Jesus was an itinerant Rabbi who taught in Synagogues sometimes; and more Jesus often taught beneath trees. Jesus broke bread with people in their homes and, well when life was tough; Alors on Danse.

That’s a different point of view than classically trained Priests of another era were taught. They were trained to read the Hebrew and Greek and study maps before reading scripture for the present culture.

…by all means yes, let’s have more dancing! More loving! More invitations to meals. More mercy…

Also, let’s be sure to offer this way of love, as an alternative to life without God; one where the dancing is about ourselves and the living is satisfying hungers of the body. That’s a line from St. Paul. He contrasts people of God’s mission, and enemies of the cross, “those whose end goal is destruction; the god of the belly.”

Gospel scripture and Pauline scripture speak of an invitation to the Grace and Peace of God not as a good time in hard times, but as the rhythm which defines all time.