Trinity Sunday: Grace, Love, and Communion!

Holy, Holy Holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and Mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!

This is a song written for Trinity Sunday by Reginald Heber in 1826.  It has become a well beloved hymn since that time. For a little more info/reflection, take this link to 2012's "Holy, Holy, Holy."

The word “trinity” is not used in the bible but there are instances in which we can discern the biblical writers belief of three “persons” in the economy of God.   The doctrine, which means teaching, of the Trinity was formalized at the Council of Nicea in 325 CE.  Traditional Theology as expressed in the little known 6th century Athanasian Creed says it this way, “we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity … the whole three Persons are coeternal together, and coequal: so that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshiped.”   Today I say, “God, One in Three, Three in One.”  I became interested in pursuing my own thoughts about the Trinity after reading an adaptation of Three Hermits (Leo Tolstoy, 1886) by Anthony deMello in Song of the Bird.  Take this link to 2010's "Mystery" and scroll down to  "pondering" if you'd like to read this delightful little story.

  

The doctrine of the Trinity is not an easy one to understand nor to articulate because it is mysterious, unexplainable and beyond our comprehension … How can God be Three in One and One in Three?  Do we worship one God or three Gods?   Intellectually speaking, believing the Trinity means we believe that God is one in essence (Greek ousia), but distinct in person (Greek hypostasis).   Yet “person” does not mean person as we think of a human person.  The Greek word hypostasis simply means “individual reality.” 

Process theologian, Lewis S. Ford (“Contingent Trinitarianism” in Trinity in Process: A Relational Theology of God) says, “Although the trinity has been traditionally understood as “three persons (ie, three subjectivities) in one substance (ie, one impersonal substratum), the original formulation need not be so understood.”   His essay highlights one of the hallmarks of Process Theology, that of contingency, and the question becomes:  Is it possible for a God with no contingent aspects to know a contingent world?  

Today's reading comes from 2 Corinthians,  a "letter" Paul has written them.  When we read the entire letter, we can hear Paul's emotions simmering with the threat of an afternoon thunderstorm looming on the horizon.  He seems hurt, angry and disappointed in this church, which seems to be divided into various cliques by “quarreling, jealously, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.” (2 Cor 12:20)  With this in mind, we read Paul's closing remarks and listen to his final admonishments, letting them steep us in hope for the divisions we find in our own communal context. 

One of the reasons that I love the little story of the Three Hermits is it's invitation to see beyond what I know and enter into the unknowing of God for then will the Light shine and I may walk on water! 

When you are ready to pray with our scripture, I invite you to spend a few moments to prepare your heart for engagement with the text via Lectio Divina.   Breathe deeply and envision our Trinitarian God, One in Three, Three in One filling you with light with each breath you take!  Settle into a place of confidence within yourself with a simple breath prayer.  Use this one or create your own (six to eight syllables) and this week I've chosen what I'll call a double breath prayer.  As I have been praying with it, it simply emerged this way and it feels more complete.

Breathing in (who do you worship?)   ... One in Three
Breathing out (what do you need?)     ... fill me with light

Breathing in (who do you worship?)   ... Three in One
Breathing out (what do you need?)     ... help me shine bright

When you are ready to move into the text, pray:  Holy God, One in Three, Three in One, often we find ourselves in conflict with our brothers and sisters over deeply held convictions.  Sometimes those convictions become larger than the love we have for you and the unity you call us to with your very Being.  Open my heart and my mind and my soul as I read your words, that I might find, through the light of your love, a way to be loving and kind to those I disagree with.  Amen.

Read 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 (NET) and immerse yourself in the words as you engage in Lectio Divina, which means sacred reading.  Allow yourself to be drawn deeply into God’s Presence as you read and pray and listen.  If you are in conflict with a person or a group of persons, you might listen for God's words through that lens.

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, set things right, be encouraged, 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 and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Read the passage again and Reflect ...
How does your word or phrase from this passage illuminate your life or the life of your community right now?  How is God inviting you to change or grow or pray or act?

Read the passage again and Respond ...
What do you say to God about how this passage is calling you?   How do you pray when you consider what God is saying to you?

Breathe deeply and Rest ...
Come to a place of silence within yourself and just "be" with God.  Try for 10 minutes or beyond.

When you are ready to move on,  Pray:  O God, One in Three, Three in One, I want to live in the unity of Grace, Love, and Communion with my brothers and sisters in Christ, with all the people of the whole world, and with all of creation.  In your mercy, help me.  Amen.

Icon: Holy Forefathers, Russion, Novgorod (in my possession)

If Images are a pathway to God for you, you might want to Pray with this Icon by engaging in Visio Divina, what can also be called the prayer of gazing, with this image.  I recently acquired this one after experiencing a sense of the Holy Trinity through it.  As I sat gazing upon it, I saw three persons, each with 2 persons within.  And I thought, each "person" of God carries the other two, they are never without each other ... for me, this is how they are relationally one.  Realize that images only go so far, they are not reality but they certainly can point to reality or at least to a perception of reality.  As a matter of fact, I prefer feminine images of God, especially for the Holy Spirit.  But I can still appreciate this icon and it can still speak to me.  This is what visio divina, which means "sacred seeing" is about, finding meaning through art or image that speaks to a deeper truth that you sense within yourself.  And yes, it is subjective.  I don't expect anyone else to "see" or "feel" what I see and feel.  I hope that one would see and feel what is helpful for them in their own life and journey to God, who is always pursuing a deeper relationship with each of us in our way, time and context.  Enjoy!

If music is a pathway to God for you, take this link to youtube, watch the beautiful natures photos in the video and listen to Holy, Holy, Holy to end your time of praying with scripture. 

The Bread of Life, Week 4

In this 5 week series, we focus on Jesus who says to us, “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”  (John 6:35)

This week Jesus is still with the Jewish community of his boyhood.  And they are still astounded at his "audacity."  Not only has Jesus equated himself with God ... he says that one must eat his flesh and drink his blood in order to have eternal life.  Crazy!  And I have to admit that reading this short passage I get a little "creeped out" myself.  I think if I had been there, I would have been shaking my head along with everyone else.  I grew up taking "communion" once a month when I was attending church.  I am used to the metaphorical language that is used.  I understand what is actually being said.  But Jesus gives no "real" explanation to these people.  And they argue among themselves ... 

As we move through these "Bread of Life" passages over these 5 weeks, this more than any other week is the week to talk about the sacrament of "holy communion."  A sacrament is an outward sign of an inward grace.  When we celebrate communion, we believe that Jesus is truly present with us.  We do not, however, agree about what that means.  

In some religious traditions, as in the Catholic Church, persons believe in transubstantiation. This means the elements which are the bread (body) and wine/juice (blood) change into the actual substance of the body and blood of Jesus.  

United Methodists, as I am, believe in transignification.  We believe the elements do not physically change, but the bread and wine/juice change in significance and purpose. They are spiritual nourishment, a "holy mystery." Read more in the United Methodist publication called This Holy Mystery.  

There are still others that believe that the celebration of holy communion, also known as the Eucharist (thanksgiving) or the Lord's Supper, is only a symbolic gesture in remembrance of Jesus.   

This is both a well defined doctrine in most religious traditions and a deeply personal issue.  Each person has to work through for themselves in their own personal and communal situation.  In the Upper Room at the Last Supper, Jesus "took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying,  ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood."  At the time of the writing of John's Gospel, the early church were developing a tradition and from reading the text, we can assume this issue was deeply divisive in their community.  I believe this is why John devotes an entire chapter on Jesus as the Bread of Life. In many ways, it is a "life or death" question.  For Jesus says finally, "the one who eats this bread will live for ever."

Last Supper by Theophanes the Cretan [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Mid 16th Century, Painting located at Stavronikita Monastery, Mount Athos

I invite you to spend a few moments to prepare your heart to receive the Word of God as you prayerfully consider the Scripture passage for today.   Breathe deeply and envision Jesus, the bread of life, challenging you with his words.  Settle into a sense of peaceful pondering within yourself with a simple breath prayer.  Use this one or create your own (six to eight syllables)

          Breathe in … Bread of Life (pause) Breath out … I want to live! (pause)

and when you are ready to move deeper into the text ...  Pray: Jesus, you are the bread of my life.  I fear I do not truly understand what you are saying.  Help me understand and embrace your presence in the sacrament of Holy Communion.   Amen … Amen … Amen

Step 1: Lectio … Reading Read John 6:51-58 silently to yourself twice, slowly and reverently.  Listen for a word or phrase that catches your attention.  Gently focus on that word or phrase.  Repeat it several times and allow it to be sifted through your heart and mind all the way to your soul.

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and  the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.’   The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live for ever.’

Step 2: Meditatio … Receiving
Continue to focus on your word or phrase.
Pay attention to the thoughts and feelings it evokes.
What images emerge in your imagination?
What memories come to your mind?
Ask God to continue to speak to you through this word.
Listen for God’s reply as you move through your day

Step 3: Oratio … Responding
Consider any desires that have been awakened by your prayer.
Perhaps you have found an area of your life that needs attention.
Do not rush ... wait and listen as God forms your prayers and desires

Step 4: Contempatio … Resting
Allow yourself to rest in the silence.
Allow your mind to settle into the silence.
When you feel the time to move on ...

Pray … Bread of Life, let me live forever in your Presence … Amen

Cindy's Meditation ... life of the world, Jesus talks about the whole world, not just me.  Jesus loves not just a few people but every person in the whole world.  How can I not believe that Jesus gave God-Self for every single person?   But I do believe it.  God cares for the world more than I can imagine and this makes me feel a sense of awe.  Somehow the more I know of God's love for all of humanity and all of creation, the bigger God seems.  And yet, how strange it is to think about eating his flesh and drinking his blood.  It sounds more acceptable to say ... The bread of Life, the Cup of Salvation!   I want to understand more deeply ... O God fill my heart with understanding as I rest in your presence ... God's love revealed

For a quiet reflection with music and images of a Catholic Communion Service, view John Michael Talbot's I am the Bread of Life on YouTube.  Or close your eyes and listen to the more traditional hymn I am the Bread of Life by Robert Kochis.