Today is Trinity Sunday. It always comes the Sunday after Pentecost, the day we celebrate the Holy Spirit. We are straight on who God the father is, we've always been straight on who Jesus is, and we've brought some attention on the Holy Spirit. So now we are ready to bring the three together into one, the one in three and three in one. Wha...? How does that makes sense?
People struggle with Trinitarianism. I think it is because it is a doctrine, and we tend to try to deal with it with our heads. But it is a mystery, and mysteries belong in the heart. We are uncomfortable with mysteries because we can't reach out and touch them, but sometimes metaphors are helpful. Augustine of Hippo had one about a tree that is roots, trunk, and branches. Then there's one about three streams of water coming together. As I was thinking about this today I came up with a bus with God the father as the driver, Jesus as a passenger who got off for awhile and hopped back on, and Holy Spirit as the attendant who is constantly on and off. So, whatever is helpful to you, that is what metaphors are for.
Sermons are where we get our most helpful information on Trinity Sunday. Today's advanced the idea of the Trinity as Emmanuel: God with us. How very true! As Christians we can readily relate to Jesus because after all, he lived among us, and experienced the same frustrations and joys that we experienced. But Jesus as a historical figure isn't who dwells in our hearts. In our hearts it is the Living Christ, who was and is and will be forever. And who makes that possible? Why little Holy Spirit, who stays in the shadows and comes to us as the wind, the breath, the peace. God the father who created us is vast. But as the Trinity, God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, God IS Emmanuel: God With US.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Happy Birthday to the Church
This coming Sunday is Pentecost, the official anniversary of the birth of the Church, which makes it the church's birthday. It is always celebrated exactly 50 days after Easter. It is the second most important celebration in the church (Easter being the first), and probably the most misunderstood and most overlooked. Understandably--Pentecost comes at a time of year when the weather is getting warm (this year, make that sweltering hot) the days are getting long, and kids are getting tired of being in school. There are weddings, graduations, family reunions, and trips to the beach. Baseball, laying out by the pool, and working in the garden. No wonder we are so distracted that the Church's special day gets shortchanged!
But its a spectacular day if you only go to the trouble to celebrate it. It is the one day of the year that we take the Holy Spirit out of shadows and let her spread her wings. She was promised to us and now here she is. In many churches it is traditional to wear red, and to read scripture in many languages at once (symbolizing the giving of the Holy Spirit in all languages at the same time). Often there are streamers in red and gold being flown around and the dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit, being much in evidence. The vestments and altar colors are red--a vibrant color that is only used on special occasions like ordinations and patron saint's days. The day is filled with symbols and mysticism, and the charge to the Church is to get out there for another year and spread the Good News of the Gospel in thought, word, and deed.
I wonder if the Church minds at all that her birthday often is ignored. My birthday also comes at an awkward time of year (one week before Thanksgiving) when everyone including me is distracted by other things, like the days getting shorter, and preparing for the Christmas holidays. But like the church, as I have gotten older, I have learned the value of forgiveness, and have a number of other things on my mind that are frankly more important than getting older. But it IS nice to hear a friendly "happy birthday" once in awhile.
And so how will YOU say Happy Birthday to the Church this year? I bet what the Church would appreciate the most would be a nice vow on your part to throughout the next year show the love of Chirst through your actions, and in this way spread the Gospel. That's what I intend to do.
But its a spectacular day if you only go to the trouble to celebrate it. It is the one day of the year that we take the Holy Spirit out of shadows and let her spread her wings. She was promised to us and now here she is. In many churches it is traditional to wear red, and to read scripture in many languages at once (symbolizing the giving of the Holy Spirit in all languages at the same time). Often there are streamers in red and gold being flown around and the dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit, being much in evidence. The vestments and altar colors are red--a vibrant color that is only used on special occasions like ordinations and patron saint's days. The day is filled with symbols and mysticism, and the charge to the Church is to get out there for another year and spread the Good News of the Gospel in thought, word, and deed.
I wonder if the Church minds at all that her birthday often is ignored. My birthday also comes at an awkward time of year (one week before Thanksgiving) when everyone including me is distracted by other things, like the days getting shorter, and preparing for the Christmas holidays. But like the church, as I have gotten older, I have learned the value of forgiveness, and have a number of other things on my mind that are frankly more important than getting older. But it IS nice to hear a friendly "happy birthday" once in awhile.
And so how will YOU say Happy Birthday to the Church this year? I bet what the Church would appreciate the most would be a nice vow on your part to throughout the next year show the love of Chirst through your actions, and in this way spread the Gospel. That's what I intend to do.
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