Updating Our View of God

This beautiful time in glow of Easter brings us some of the greatest feasts of the Liturgical Year: the Ascension, Pentecost, and near the end of the month, The Trinity. We have learned that the Ascension is not just ‘Yay, Jesus!’ but the realization that our own humanness, our very DNA is now located in the very Heart of God. We have understood better that the coming of the Spirit into our lives can come in doses of small, medium, or large. But the Trinity? 

 Years ago, we learned it well: There are Three Persons in God, but there is only one God. That was it. We may have learned it, but why is it that when we are asked to explain it to a Jewish or Muslim friend, to our family, we are tongue-tied. We really don’t know what to say. Maybe it’s time for an update, for moving this most profound of Feasts from the language of doctrine to the language of meaning.

 Why do we, of all the world religions, believe that there are three ‘somethings’ in God? Because Jesus told us so. He told us so because it is basic to our understanding of the transformation of the entire world. He had to open our minds. He had to widen our narrow, sin-bound understanding. We think that difference means competition: you-against-me. No, Jesus taught. Difference can unify. Now this is a strange thought…for the races, for the nations, for human culture, for the human ego.

If you have a Singer, you know that because there is a Song. If there is a Song, it is because you heard the Singing. If you have a Speaker, you know that, if there is a Word. If you hear a Word, it is because you heard the Speaking of it. If you have a Lover, you need a Beloved, and you know both because of the Loving between them. Remove one difference and the unity collapses. Hmm…that simple? Grammar? Yes, and that profound.

That is what Jesus taught us, and that is what we have to learn as humans to heal human relationships. Difference is meant to create the beauty of unity. Is that why all creation is Trinitarian? Is that why we are Trinitarian as humans: physical, emotional, spiritual, yet one entity? Is that why all of human culture is Trinitarian, for it is in our differences that we will find our oneness? We will finally be healed…because truly we are in the image and likeness of God?

 Holy One,

What am I to say?

Are you Love simply Expressed in Expressing?

Are you God-Mystery who has a God-Word through a Spirit-begetting?

Hmmm…I have to think about that…

Amen.

 

Tips from the USA Dominicans Preaching Contacts

On November 17, 2023, the Preaching Contact Persons from the USA Dominican Communities shared pointers they suggest make preaching events memorable…! We thought you would like to know what they said:

•      ·       Connect with history as appropriate; help us understand whatever is being celebrated (i.e. Translation of remains of Dominic, Triumph of the Cross).
• ·       Share just enough appropriate historical background.
• ·       Know your audience and remember that holidays are times of joy and sorrow; speak to both realities…!  
• ·       Know context: What is happening in the world?
• ·       Use a line from Scripture and repeat it appropriately for emphsis.
• ·       Just the right length - not too long and not too short…!
• ·       Never ramble…!
• ·       Challenge your audience (Avoid serving ‘Let us…’)
• ·       Draw people into a personal encounter with Christ Jesus.

Keep tuned…! We’ll be sharing more on the final point soon…!

The Preaching Committee, Kathy, Lisa, Lois, Clarice, and Carla Mae

Let Your Light Shine?

 We have experienced the shortest day of the year, and the light is growing stronger each day. Liturgically, we have just celebrated the season of lights. But as we listen to the evening news, we often feel anything but lightsome. What are we to make of this contrast? Often we sense that the Church lives in its own faith-world, while I live in the real world. But after a bit of thought, maybe what we really all live in, is the tension between light and darkness. There is a tug-of-war, and I have to decide daily what side I’m on…!

 Interestingly, this is exactly what the Dominican shield captures. Whether viewed from the bottom up or the top down, the light is piercing the darkness. Maybe that is just the point: we live in the tension between light and darkness, between truth and lies, between peace and war, between the now and the not-yet.

 The scriptures for this time right after Christmas assure us of one thing: the Light has come, and the darkness is not going to overcome it. So, on our part we need to focus. Being wishy-washy will bring us only confusion. We need to make a decision to keep our eyes on the prize. But there is more. The Light has made its home in our DNA…our ‘stuff’…in our very flesh. There is nowhere to run when we look in the mirror. The deed is done. There is light behind our eyes…in fact, we are told we are the light of the world, because the One who has taken our flesh is the Light of the world. The darkness might try to snuff it out, but it doesn’t have a chance against that Love-light. We didn’t put it there, and even if we cover it with a bushel, we are not going to kill it. This is to be our focus. This is our constant gratitude, no matter how the darkness tries to smother it. Yes, do let your light shine for me and all to see…

 Little One,

Veiled in my flesh,

Expression of the Father’s Glory

wrapped in swaddling clothes,

my light is hidden too.

My skin hides my light from me.

But you see what I cannot see.

You have given Yourself to me.

Help me to remember

when the darkness closes in…

to let your light shine.