‘Rock my soul’

Andrew Collis
Humanity Sunday, Season of Creation B
Genesis 1:26-28; Mark 10:42-45

The priestly account of Creation in Genesis 1 sees Elohim creating human beings in the divine likeness, to be loving and caring toward the fish, birds and wild animals. Responsibility is the watchword. “Stewardship” is a faithful translation, though “subjugation” is a sadly familiar one.

What does it mean to be human? For Christians, it means a priestly vocation according to the person and work of Jesus. Divinity and humanity are related as insistence to existence – the promise of love to love’s embodiment.

The promise made to Abraham and Sarah entails blessings for “all the people on the face of the earth” (Genesis 11:3).

The promise made to Sarah and Abraham involves receiving strangers as holy messengers; openness to friendship and new birth (Genesis 18:1ff.).

The promise made to Abraham and Sarah invites debate and struggle with God, in the Spirit of compassion (Genesis 18:22ff.).

The promise made to Sarah and Abraham prefigures renunciation of violent sacrifice as well as letting go possessions, in particular regarding one’s own child (Isaac) – the blessings for all (including Hagar and Ishmael) will come by way of gift and trust (Genesis 22:1ff.).

On this Humanity Sunday, I marvel at these stories. Sacred stories for Jews, Christians and Muslims. I recall the old spiritual – we used to sing it in Sunday School! – “Rock My Soul” …

The phrase was intriguing to me then: “Rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham …” I understood it somehow. The blessing was offered to me.

I, too, am a child of Sarah and Abraham … called to welcome strangers, asylum seekers, neighbours; called to debate in the Spirit of compassion; called to renounce violent and possessive ways; to acknowledge life as gift and to trust in grace/graciousness/gracefulness …

The “bosom of Abraham” is a unique phrase found in Luke 16, where the “poor Lazarus” of Jesus’ parable is described as having died and now resting in the bosom of Abraham – a heavenly image of safety, security.

The image confounds the wealthy and self-righteous who ignore, neglect and torment Lazarus and all those assured of God’s love and care.

There’s something inclusive of diverse sex and gender identities – the “bosom of Abraham” akin to the Wisdom/Word of God, the Promised One who gives his own flesh and blood as food and drink; the Promised One who speaks of new birth by water and the Spirit; the Promised One who comes to serve, to give, to liberate … to love and care for the fish, birds and wild animals …

The image of resting in the “bosom of Abraham” is rooted in the image of a frightened or wounded child resting safely in the arms of a parent. The spiritual life is likened to the action of a parent, rhythmically rocking a child in her/his arms.

The “bosom of Abraham”, then, is a placeholder for humanity and for the kindom of heaven – that place where God imagines us and we imagine God. I really love this song! 

In a world of injustice and impiety, we need the soothing rhythm of love. Amen.

Rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham
Rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham
Rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham
Oh, rock my soul

So high I can’t get over it
So low I can’t get under it
So wide I can’t get round it
Oh, rock my soul