For some reason, I have never really thought about what the words of the Barchu mean. I tend to think much more about the role of the Barchu in the service, as a call to community and to the part of the service where having a minyan is more crucial. While there are many worthwhile questions to ask about the pros and cons of the traditional emphasis on praying with a minyan, I am currently really appreciating the idea of a community that is committed enough to mutual support that it will pull together a minyan for prayer, especially in cases where that has personal significance for a member (such as a shiva or kaddish minyan). I also appreciate halachic aspects of this -- it doesn't matter if we love or even like each other, we are committed to each other and to doing this with and for each other for reasons that go beyond individual chemistry (and therefore into a realm of some kind of unconditional, perhaps divine love).
Sooooo therefore, I am currently thinking about the text of the Barchu in this way:
Barchu et hashem hamevorach:
Let's bless God who is the focal point of our communal blessing
Baruch hashem hamevorah l'olam vaed:
It's awesome that we have God to be the focal point of our communal blessing, hopefully that'll keep being the case forever!
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