Thoughts on U2's "Invisible"

I'm really excited that U2 has some new music, including "Ordinary Love" that came out a few months ago as part of the soundtrack for the film "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom." Last week, yet another single, "Invisible," was made free on iTunes and now the video has been released (have a listen).

"Invisible" is a pretty straight forward song that sounds like it could easily fit on a number of U2's past albums. Translation: they're still making good music. The activist rock band is also continuing to put out a challenging message. This song was recorded to bring awareness to the plight of AIDS victims in Africa and to raise money to save lives. With each free download, Bank of America made a donation to Red's Global Fund and to this point over $3 million has been raised. 

As Bono, with yearning voice, sings in the first person, we are invited for 4:12 to look at the world through the eyes of millions who suffer with AIDS:

I’m more than you know
I’m more than you see here
I’m more than you let me be
I’m more than you know
A body in a soul
You don’t see me but you will
I am not invisible
I am here

As I listen to these lyrics, I realize that the invisible ones who suffer from AIDS (and probably also poverty and other forms of exploitation) still have dignity ("a body in a soul") because they are created in and bear the image of God. Discussing this reality, Andrew Louth (2012:87) helpfully notes, "we have been created by God the Father in the image of the Word [Jesus] through the Word." 

Despite having dignity, people with AIDS are also broken souls; yet they share their brokenness with the rest of humanity who are broken in different ways and by different things. 

There is no them, There’s only us
There’s only you, And there’s only me   

U2 captures this solidarity through the words of this refrain and by delivering it in such a catchy and singable form. By song's end, the 1200 audience members in the video shoot are united in chorus.

As I meditate on Scripture, I'm convinced that all of humanity bears the image of God and yet all of humanity stands condemned before God as sinners. The hope of the Gospel--the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus--is that we can have a new start--new life--toward being fully restored to the image of God. Louth adds, "so that, through the Word [Jesus] who created us we might come to the knowledge of God the Father—this whole process takes place by grace, that is through the Spirit."

Good song and good video. Now I'm waiting for the album and a chance to buy a ticket to see them live.