Last
week we talked about communication.
About how we need to use language—words, culture, body language—all of
it, in ways that can be readily heard and understood. It was Pentecost, and the reading from Acts
reminded us that when the Holy Spirit blew through the crowd, the disciples
were able to speak languages they did not know.
The miracle wasn’t that they could speak in all these languages. The miracle was that because they could speak
in all the languages, the story of God could be heard by people who would
otherwise not know about Jesus. And
then, it could be broadly shared throughout the world.
We
read the lesson from Acts in three different interpretations and recognized
that each one provided us a new way to hear the message. Even in the same language, the words, the
tone, the inflection we use can impact the way we hear the story.
We
didn’t talk much about how we each might adapt the way we communicate with a
variety of people in our lives. But if
we look at our own communication styles, we might recognize some ways we work
with others to tell the story. Some of
it has to do with method. For example, there are some
who prefer emails to texts, others face to face to phone. Knowing the best way to reach someone is
important.
Then,
thinking of the way we speak with others can be determined by the kind of
relationship we have with someone. Think
about how you talk with a clerk in a store, in comparison to your child, your
friend, your co-worker or your partner.
Each of those people, or categories of people might require a unique way
of communicating.
People
you know well will understand your inflections, your eyebrow raises, your body
language, your sense of humor and your basic communication style. They’ll know much of your story and can get
by on language shorthand. They know when
to forgive, to empathize, be patient or to ask for clarity, reprimand, and
help. They will live with your quirks
because they love you.
In
other cases, you only get a single opportunity to make a first impression, so
the way you communicate with someone you just meet will impact their response
to you.
We
don’t talk to every person the same way.
I
think that’s one way approach the mystery of the Trinity. Ah.
You were wondering where I was going with this, weren’t you?
It is
foolish for me to try to explain the Trinity.
Instead, let’s consider how we communicate with the Trinity. Because, I believe, it is our relationship
with the Trinity—God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit—that matters more than the
doctrine or scholarship that humans have tried to develop.
A
while back I explained why, when I begin the prayer at the end of our sharing
of Joys and Concerns, I begin with the words, “Holy One.” I think that it bears repeating today, on
Trinity Sunday.
I say “Holy
One” because in moments of intercession, especially, I don’t want to decide for
you which part of the Trinity to pray to.
Your relationship with your Holy at that moment may be to talk directly
to our Creator, God. Or, you may feel
more connected to Jesus, the healer, the teacher. On the other hand, your prayer may be better
suited to the Comforter, the Advocate, the Holy Spirit. Maybe, at that moment, you need any
combination of the Trinity.
“Holy
One” allows you to talk to the Trinity the way that works best for you. All I am doing is opening the prayer,
inviting all of God to be present.
It’s
about relationship. It’s about how you thank
God. It’s about how you ask in Jesus’
name. It’s about how you hear the Holy
Spirit as she blows through your life.
It’s about how you live in relationship with the Trinity each day.
It’s
about how you experience the love of God.
Maybe it would help if I tell you a little bit about how I
understand the Trinity in my own life.
If you
are like me, you have a variety of friends from many parts of your life. Some can handle ALL of you—your quirks, your
moods, your history, your “stuff.”
Others
are who you go to for help, who will support you or who can teach you what you
need to know.
And
then there are some who you can hang out and have fun with, and who help you
see the joy in living.
Most
of my friends do all these things. But
when the circumstances are just right, I know there are certain friends I can
go to who can provide exactly what I need.
I
think of the Holy Trinity as one God, but also as a trio of friends. All of God
knows me, but sometimes, I need to go to one friend, one manifestation of God,
because they are the right friend at that moment.
Sometimes
I need to go directly to God the Creator, because Creator God can handle any
way I come in prayer. Angry, sad,
frustrated, fed up, lost, confused, God is willing to hear my cries, my pleas,
my fears and concerns for things I cannot do anything about. I can go to God because I trust that my
painful, woeful prayers will be mixed with all those who cry out about the hurt
in the world. I believe that God will
hear the weeping and cry with me, cry with us.
I also
will go to God with thanksgiving, joy, hope and awe, because God deserves to
know that I see the beauty of creation, the depth within people and the many
expressions of love I see everywhere.
I go
to Jesus, God made human, when I need to learn something, to ask for healing,
and for the human things that I believe Jesus can relate to. Jesus is my example of how to live in this
world, he is the barometer of how to care for others and how to help change the
ways of the world, one person at a time.
Jesus is my teacher and guide when I’m not sure if I have the ability or
gumption to see the dignity of every human being.
The
question, “What would Jesus do?” Is not just a slogan on a rubber bracelet for
me. It is a true question about how to
live in this world as a faithful member of the Jesus Movement. Sometimes, I just need to ask him.
And
the God the Holy Spirit is my source of comfort, my destination when I doubt,
my focus when I need to find my center.
She is wisdom and heart, grounding and freedom. I feel her presence within me, and I see her presence
in others. I will go to her when I am
confused and need clarity, when I need peace in my heart, when I intentionally
seek moments of sabbath rest. She feeds
me and fills me and gives me strength when I am most in need.
She
surprises me and protects me. She gently
holds me and roughly pushes me. She
gives me confidence when I doubt and willingness when I am stubborn. She fills me to overflowing with compassion
and love, so that I can share compassion and love to the world.
I go
to God in all these manifestations:
Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit, because I know that they will hear me,
in whatever language I am speaking—even when I have no language at all. This intimacy, this relationship with the
Holy One in Three and Three in One fills me and feeds me.
That
is what I hope for you. I hope that you
can know the Triune God, the Trinity, in ways that help you deeply feel the
unconditional love God has for you.
Let us
pray.
Holy Trinity,
thank you for all you are and all you will be in our lives. Amen.