The Mystery of Faith

As it is Trinity Sunday, I thought I’d ponder the mystery of the Trinity. I try to be real and honest when I write my blogs and when I don’t understand an idea, I’ll admit to it. Right at the outset of this blog I want to say that I don’t understand the Trinity — I can’t quite get my head round it. 

 

I think I am in good company, because as I glance at some of the explanations of Trinity, I’m not sure that anyone else understands it either. 

 

St. Patrick tried to explain Trinity by using a clover leaf — three leaves on one stalk. One clover, three parts. A good and, possibly, helpful picture yet not quite there. St Augustine described the Trinity as the Beloved, the Lover and the Love between them — another good picture based on a love relationship. Historically there have been several theories now considered heresy which were an attempt to explain the Trinity. Most claim one God in three distinct and separate manifestations — the Mother-Father became the Child who then became the Spirit (sorry for the very simplistic explanation!).

 

My preference is to remain with it as mystery. It is part of the faith. I don’t need to understand the details. As I pondered the relationship between mystery and faith, I realized that I live with this tension in many aspects of my life.

 

I thought about the COVID immunization, which I am incredibly grateful for. The vaccine is a mystery to me. I don’t understand what all the component parts are and although I’ve listened to some great explanations of how it works, I am aware that I don’t really understand the intricacies of how a vaccine works.  It is a mystery, yet, I accept by faith that this is the best thing for me and for my fellow human beings therefore I had the two jabs. 

 

I also pondered nature, something which I often do, but this time I was thinking of the mystery of it. So much of nature is a mystery to me. How does summer become autumn? I know vaguely that it is to do with light, and heat, and water and seasons. Yet, here in upstate New York in September we are often still in high summer temperatures but still the leaves still start to change to their autumnal glory. It is a mystery, yet I have faith that the seasons will continue to change, autumn will continue to follow summer.

 

The above are a couple of poor examples but as I pondered, I became increasingly aware that I live a lot of my life in this place of mystery and faith. Lots of things are a mystery to me yet I have faith in them. I’m seeing them through new eyes. Even simple things like writing this blog — the mystery of opening the computer with the faith it will log on, the mystery of hitting a key with the faith that what I type will appear on the screen , the mystery of pressing a few buttons and the faith that the blog will appear on the mailing list and Facebook. 

 

I am happy to live with many things as mystery. I don’t need to know the intricacies of the inner working. I simply live by the faith that they will work as expected. It is an interesting exercise — trying to see how many things during a normal day are a mystery to me yet I have faith in them.

 

Each time we share Eucharist together, we announce this is “the faith of the church” as we recite the Nicene Creed where the Trinitarian nature of God is expounded. I don’t understand the intricacies of the relationship between the three parts of the Trinity — it is an aspect of faith.

 

Trinity is a mystery and I am happy to remain with it as such.

 

“The Three who are over us,

The Three who are below us,

The Three who are above us here,

The Three who are above us yonder,

The Three who are in earth,

The Three who are in air,

The Three who are in heaven,

The Three who are in the great pouring sea,

Be blessing us this day.”

 

(Way of Living 47)

A Message in a Time of Persecution

 

A message in a time of persecution — as I pondered the gospel text (John 17:6-19) for this week that was the conclusion I arrived at.

 

I spent some time musing on it. The passage seems exclusive. It is full of phrases like “I am asking on their behalf, I am not asking on behalf of the world” (9) and “those whom you gave me from the world” (6)

 

When I read the New Testament, I find an overarching principle of inclusion. The good news is for everyone. The stories tell of Jesus being drawn to minorities — women, children, the poor, the Samaritan, etc. This is affirmed by the Acts and Epistles. The book of Galatians proclaims boldly, “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus” (3:28).

 

Today, I read a text that seems exclusive. This stands against the principle of inclusion so lauded in the New Testament scriptures. I wondered, briefly, if this was creating a divide between the Jewish nation and the Gentiles with the Jewish nation being favoured. However, I quickly abandoned that idea as it certainly would go against the tenet of the book of John. 

 

Eventually, I decided that the best way I could interpret this passage was to read it as a message in a time of persecution. It wasn’t a prayer for the whole of humanity but simply for those who were being persecuted. It would bring comfort — a sense that they had not been forgotten nor was their sacrifice unheeded. 

 

I suggest to any reading this blog that the passage is reread in that mode — this is not a general prayer but exclusively for those experiencing persecution. It breathes new life into the prayer which mentions being protected and guarded.

 

As I was understanding it in that light, I thought of the Black Lives Matter movement which ignited into new life after the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Breonnna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks and George Floyd. Sadly, many took to social media to proclaim, “All Lives Matter”. This now popular slogan avoids the conversation about racism, it denies the problems faced by Black friends and it closes important discussions which are still much needed. In a recent article entitled “Why is it so offensive to say ‘all lives matter’?  Karen Stollznow (Griffith University) concludes that “all lives matter” is “a direct push-back against the Black Lives Matter movement. It is far from an innocent term celebrating the worth of all humanity”.

 

For the last three weeks Andy and I have been teaching a course on racism (in our context for foster and adoptive parents, childcare workers and court advocates). In the trainings we seek to create a safe and confidential space for people to share their stories. I listened in sadness to the stories of the racism many of the participants have and are experiencing. For those of us living with our white privilege and white normativity it is hard to hear the stories. It makes me want to shout from the mountain tops “Black Lives Matter”. And, to affirm that in the Lindisfarne Community, Black Lives Matter.

 

So back to the text, I have no difficulty in understanding this passage as placing weight on a particular group of people who were in great need at that time. It does not detract from the general message of inclusion, but highlights that at that time those under persecution needed special recognition.

 

 

 

 

Time to Prune

The Celtic season has changed. The wheel of life keeps turning. Yesterday — May Day — was the first day of Beltane. 

 

Beltane. — the fires of Bel. Bel is likely a reference to the sun god, Belenus. (Alternate translations suggest Beltane means “bright fire”.)  In the Celtic tradition it was a two-fold celebration although I suspect they merged.

 

Two large bonfires were lit. Cattle were shepherded between them as a rite of purification and protection before being released into the newly opened pastures. People too passed between the fires to purify themselves. On the eve of Beltane all the hearth fires would be doused. The following day they would be relit from the Beltane bonfire — a new beginning.

 

It was also a time of great celebration of the fertility of the earth. Often a May Bush was decorated. This was usually a Rowan tree or Hawthorn bush which would be in bloom. The bushes were decorated with ribbons, bright flowers, painted stones and shells. Flowers and garlands were hung on doors and set windows of their homes. 

 

For Andy and I the first day of Beltane was spent in our garden —leaves needed to be raked off the lawn and bedding plants and herbs needed to be planted. We were surrounded by our lovely trees; the tall regal pines, the white blossom of the flowering pears, the pinks of the magnolia, the yellows of the forsythia and the reds of an unidentified tree. What a celebration of the fertility of the earth.

 

The lectionary reading (John 15: 1-8) seemed apt for the season. I was drawn to the concept of pruning and removing dead branches throughout the passage which were later burnt in the fire. Pruning and gathering dead branches is part of our work in the garden. I must confess, I always apologise to the tree when I’m cutting a branch. I tell the tree that it won’t hurt, it is just like getting a haircut! 

 

As in the text all dead or pruned branches will be burnt. By the time we reach winter our store shed will be full of branches and twigs which will keep us warm through the winter months. This is part of our preparation for the future seasons as the wheel of life keeps turning.

 

As I pondered the passage, which seemed so reflected in both the Celtic season and our garden work, I mused on pruning in general. It is part of the purification process that was so important to the Celts. At this time of year, I “prune” my clothes, the summer garments are retrieved from the high shelf in my wardrobe and the winter ones stored. In that process there is always some that will be discarded or donated for redistribution. 

 

Yet, that is an outward example, but more importantly pruning should be inward as well. It is a question I will continue to reflect on this first week of Beltane.

 

“What needs to be pruned from my life?”