Sunday, May 27, 2018
The Holy Trinity
Isaiah 6:1-8
Psalm 29
Romans 8:12-17
John 3:1-17
This week we celebrate the Holy Trinity. One prayer for the day addresses God as Author of creation, eternal Word of salvation, life-giving Spirit of wisdom, trying to put into words what is really not able to be put into words.
The Isaiah text paints an image of the transcendent (unequaled, unlimited, mystical) God who is worthy of constant praise. “Holy, Holy, Holy” sing the seraphim, unimaginable creatures whose purpose seems to be continually praising God.
The psalm uses “Glory” to praise the God of creation.
Then, the Romans text tells us that God is as personal and close as a daddy (abba) that you call when you are sad or scared.
And in John, Jesus quotes one of the best-known scripture texts in the world…. oh, sorry…. Jesus tells us just how much God loves us/the world.
The concept of the Trinity is tricky and it is easy to stumble into official heresy if you try too hard to explain it. God is wider than the universe, and closer than a breath. So, this year I’m sticking with the seraphim. I will worship and praise God and just rest with the mystery.
One way I will do that is in meditative prayer. I may have mentioned in an earlier post that I use prayer beads – the Anglican rosary, which is very similar to the Roman Rosary, the main difference being the number of beads and “stops” on the prayer. The point of using beads is that as one fingers a bead, one stays focused on the prayer.
The prayer I pray most often with my beads is called “A Celtic Prayer” created by Sister Brigit-Carol, S.D.
Two parts are repeated as you go around the circle, depending on what bead you finger.
Be the eye of God dwelling with me,
The hand of Christ in guidance with me,
The shower of the Spirit pouring on me,
Richly and generously.
I bow before the Father who made me,
I bow before the Son who saved me,
I bow before the Spirit who guides me,
In love and adoration.
I praise the Name of the one on high.
I bow before the Sacred Three,
The ever One, the Trinity.
The other way I will praise the Trinity is to wail away on my favorite hymn, Holy, Holy, Holy… the verse below references the praises lifted at the end of time....in old, but beloved, language.
Holy, Holy, Holy! All thy saints adore thee, casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea. Cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee, which wert, and art, and ever more shalt be.
How do you imagine God?
What about God do these texts stir within?
The Holy Trinity
Isaiah 6:1-8
Psalm 29
Romans 8:12-17
John 3:1-17
This week we celebrate the Holy Trinity. One prayer for the day addresses God as Author of creation, eternal Word of salvation, life-giving Spirit of wisdom, trying to put into words what is really not able to be put into words.
The Isaiah text paints an image of the transcendent (unequaled, unlimited, mystical) God who is worthy of constant praise. “Holy, Holy, Holy” sing the seraphim, unimaginable creatures whose purpose seems to be continually praising God.
The psalm uses “Glory” to praise the God of creation.
Then, the Romans text tells us that God is as personal and close as a daddy (abba) that you call when you are sad or scared.
And in John, Jesus quotes one of the best-known scripture texts in the world…. oh, sorry…. Jesus tells us just how much God loves us/the world.
The concept of the Trinity is tricky and it is easy to stumble into official heresy if you try too hard to explain it. God is wider than the universe, and closer than a breath. So, this year I’m sticking with the seraphim. I will worship and praise God and just rest with the mystery.
One way I will do that is in meditative prayer. I may have mentioned in an earlier post that I use prayer beads – the Anglican rosary, which is very similar to the Roman Rosary, the main difference being the number of beads and “stops” on the prayer. The point of using beads is that as one fingers a bead, one stays focused on the prayer.
The prayer I pray most often with my beads is called “A Celtic Prayer” created by Sister Brigit-Carol, S.D.
Two parts are repeated as you go around the circle, depending on what bead you finger.
Be the eye of God dwelling with me,
The hand of Christ in guidance with me,
The shower of the Spirit pouring on me,
Richly and generously.
I bow before the Father who made me,
I bow before the Son who saved me,
I bow before the Spirit who guides me,
In love and adoration.
I praise the Name of the one on high.
I bow before the Sacred Three,
The ever One, the Trinity.
The other way I will praise the Trinity is to wail away on my favorite hymn, Holy, Holy, Holy… the verse below references the praises lifted at the end of time....in old, but beloved, language.
Holy, Holy, Holy! All thy saints adore thee, casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea. Cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee, which wert, and art, and ever more shalt be.
How do you imagine God?
What about God do these texts stir within?