Today's Scripture Readings
Genesis 1:1-2:4a (NRSV)
In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
And God said, "Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters." So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
And God said, "Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, "Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it." And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
And God said, "Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth." And it was so. God made the two great lights-- the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night-- and the stars. God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
And God said, "Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky." So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth." And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.
And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind." And it was so. God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good.
Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."
God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth." God said, "See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
- So God created humankind in his image,
- in the image of God he created them;
- male and female he created them.
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation. These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created.
Psalm 8 (BCP., p.592)
2 Corinthians 13:11-13 (NRSV)
Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
Matthew 28:16-20 (NRSV)
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Blog Reflection
Undoubtedly, my blog readers see an interesting diversity within the theology of what I write. I can be all over the map. That is the beauty of the Anglican/Episcopal Tradition. We are the via media. We are Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, Unitarian/Universalist and any number of traditions. At the same time, we are none of the above exclusively. There are many unique individuals and influences within the Anglican Tradition and others that are distinctly and solidly Christian. The one common thread that binds Episcopalians together is The Book of Common Prayer. It is our prayer and what we pray and do within our prayer that unifies us amidst our differences.
There is one of many parts of our Tradition as Episcopalians/Anglicans that I remain very Anglo-Catholic about. That is this Sunday's Feast of The Holy Trinity.
Trinity Sunday is steeped in the Christian Tradition. It is greatly controversial, and not without reason. It is a mystery that is beyond human comprehension. The Trinity defies human logic. Even though we use the word "the-o-log-(ic)-y" in the many ways we attempt to explain and/or describe it academically or even to the least educated of people, there is no logic of any kind that adequately comes close to a definition. Even with St. Patrick's attempt to explain it with a three leaf clover, his breastplate hymn, and the countless Saints through out the centuries, the complete understanding of the Trinity evades the human intellect.
For many, the easy way out is to say that the Trinity cannot be explained, because Jesus "never claimed himself to be a Divine Being." This is a very common belief among Unitarians. This belief though it is valid from their point of view, is not something I agree with. I have tremendous respect and affection for Unitarians/Universalists and their "Standing on the Side of Love" campaign on behalf of LGBT, Women, Immigrants and more. There are many Trinity believing Christians who cannot come up with a slogan as brilliant as what the Unitarians have.
Another way out for many Trinity believing and/or questioning Christians is to say it is without logic, so why discuss it? A valid point. If it tends to bring about endless controversies that disrupt the coffee hour after Mass, then perhaps it is better left out of the discussions. Or is it?
I have just begun reading a new book as part of my formation as a Novice for Vowed Life with the Companions of St. Luke/Order of St. Benedict. The book is entitled: Toward God: The Ancient Wisdom of Western Prayer written by Michael Casey. Casey is a Cistercian Monk and Prior at Tarrawarra Abbey in Victoria, Australia. I think what I have started reading so far has something to say about the Trinity. See my quote below
Prayer is our means of taking a sighting, of re-orienting ourselves-- by re-establishing contact with our goal. In the presence of God many components of our life fall into perspective and our journey makes more sense. We look toward God, conscious that seeking what is unseen corresponds to a very deep stratum of our being. It is not just a bright idea or fad; it grows from the soil of the heart. Prayer is inseparable from living (page 5).
I think what the above quote from Casey's book about prayer are telling us, is that prayer and the mystery of the Triune God are about a deepening of a relationship between God and us. When we limit the Scriptures to mere interpretation for the sake of defending a prejudice, or prayer as something we do only when we are wanting something; the mystery of the Trinity remains incomplete and without concrete conversion. When we contemplate upon the awesome relationship of the One God who is Father/Mother/Creator, Son/Daughter/Redeemer/Servant, and Holy Spirit/Advocate/Sanctifier/Life-Giver/Mother Spirit, etc. as being about God's relationship with God's Self to humankind, lived in the lives of those Baptized into the Body of Christ that is the Church; the Trinitarian mystery breathes, works and loves others around us and through us. What we pray the Nicene or Apostles Creed what cannot be seen becomes a living and breathing reality. It can actually be touched by our human senses in ways that we cannot put into words. It is just too awesome. It baths the soul in spiritual ecstacy that raises us beyond any explanation.
As we struggle with additional mass shootings at public schools and other places; wrestle with the horrific violence to LGBT people in countries like Russia, Uganda, Nigeria and right in our own nation; the Trinity longs to become an empowering transformation through us "more than we can ever ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20).
As we ask ourselves in the depths of our soul, how to respond to church theologians who still suggest that marriage equality is at all equivalent to Nazi Germany and the invasion of Iraq, it is the living relationship of the Holy Trinity with us, that will give us guidance and the words of the Holy Spirit.
As Christians of good will discern how to prayerfully respond with justice, healing and reconciliation for the oppressed, the disenfranchised, those who are sick, without companionship, struggling with addictions and more; it is the relationship of the Trinity to humankind that longs for us to be the answer to our prayers.
The relationship of the Trinity with God's Self is a relationship of obedience out of love for God and all humankind. A love that seeks to end the discrimination towards individuals of differing religious beliefs and practices. A love that wants to see women treated with equal dignity and respect, regarding the work place and their reproductive health care. A love that does not condone violence in the Name of Christ of any kind, but thirsts to see the inclusive ministry of radical hospitality to bring about healing and reconciliation through the lives of those who believe in the majestic Name of the Holy Trinity.
The Psalmist rightly asks that if God who is so great that everything was created by God, then why are humans so wonderfully created and given such graces from the mind of the Holy One?
It is because God wants us to do more than soak up the blessings for ourselves. Our kind and gracious God has given us the fullness of a Father's love in Christ through the Holy Spirit so that Christians may be the living and breathing life of God that makes visible that which cannot be seen by the human eye. Love and compassion that is inclusive makes each of us an icon of the Beatific Vision of the Holy Trinity. Because we live in relationship to God the Holy Trinity, with all of God's holy people.
The Question I ask in conclusion is; how seriously are Christians about that relationship that goes beyond the pews and walls of our churches?
Amen.
Prayers
Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us
your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to
acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the
power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep
us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to
see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with
the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 228).
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 815).
Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us
grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace
with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom,
help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our
communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy
Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 260).
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