What To Say?

Tags

Creator, Holy Trinity, Redeemer, Revelation, sanctifier, spirit, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, trinitarian God

Today Christians mark the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity. Having searched for something erudite but understandable to say about this feast that speaks of an incomprehensible truth, I will say only what I have found to be helpful in the description (not to say definition) of the Trinitarian God, *the Three-in-One, *the Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier, *the First Cause who manifested this and every other universe, who became incarnate as a human being to teach us how to live and die, and who finally left but remains in Spirit to guide our walk through this world.

You see how voluminous it could become if I launched into theological constructs or philosophical treatises. Because that is all “above my pay grade” and would not serve here anyway, I prefer to consider this mystery of faith for its meaning in my own life and offer only the words of the Gospel Acclamation for today as homage on this feast.

Glory be to God who is, who was and who is to come! Alleluia! Alleluia! (RV 1:8)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kenosis

Tags

all-knowing, Christianity, God, Incarnation, Jesus, kenosis, kingdom of God, Paul, Philippians, Redeemer, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

I’ve just spent a bit of time reading internet information about the Greek word kenosis. After plowing through much theological language seeking something different – since I know I have written about this before – I decided ( at the risk of repeating myself) just to say a few words about the concept as it appears in Paul’s letter to the Philippians (ch. 2:6-11) and as I have come to appreciate it in my life.

In many religious traditions, including Christianity, God is seen as all-knowing, all-seeing and all-powerful, as well as abiding in ” the kingdom of heaven” which is viewed as far from us and from our earthly dwelling place. As we progress in holiness of life, we come closer to God and hopefully, in the end, abide in heaven for eternity. Theological and spiritual traditions often refer to these concepts as The Master Story.

With the doctrine of the Incarnation, i.e. Jesus, “who was by nature God, but who did not cling to Godliness, rather taking on human form,” put a new spin on thinking about God and us. Because the one we know as Christ, the Redeemer, entered human existence as “one like us in all things but sin,” the distance between us and God is collapsed and we can know the kingdom of God within us through the teachings and example of Jesus. Just as Jesus “emptied himself” so must we do the same – letting go of self-interest in favor of love for others. In doing so, living every day in love and actions that reflect the life of Christ more and more deeply, we will truly become the image and likeness of God that we were created to be.

This sounds so simple on paper but in reality is the most profound message – for me, at least – that I have found as a goal for life. I am happy to be reminded of it again today and every day in the simple word “kenosis.”

The Wisdom Jesus

Tags

Jesus, know, knowledge, Messiah, Redeemer, relationship with Jesus, road to Jerusalem, teacher, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, wisdom

Today I will spend the morning with a parish group considering Jesus not only as our Messiah and Redeemer but also how he is also a teacher of wisdom, a model for us in our seeking to live life from a deeper center of being. During the morning, in addition to some factual information, I will ask participants to reflect on two sets of questions:

1. What do we know about Jesus? How do we know what we know? and
2. How well do you know Jesus? Where and when did you meet him?

The difference is, of course, between knowing from outside sources and knowing from the inside, from our experience. I would invite everyone to join in the reflection this morning as a way to get in touch with the state of our relationship, to take a further step companioning Jesus on the road to Jerusalem – and perhaps to find him already at the center of our hearts.