The Rev. Larry Ort
This coming Sunday is Trinity Sunday. Given our western rational mind, we long for an explanation of the Trinity — “It’s like water — a solid, a liquid, and a gas.” “It’s like an egg – the white, the yolk, and the shell.” “It’s like a shamrock — three but one.” Let’s face it, All our attempts to explain the Trinity ultimately fail. We are confronted by paradox and mystery. Might the concept of the Trinity have far less to do with how we understand God’s nature than it does with how we experience God?
When we see the beauty of creation, we tend to think of God the Father as creator, yet we are also told that all things were created through Christ. When we undergo trial and temptations, we tend to remember out brother Jesus who was tempted in every way as we are yet without sin. When seeking, peace, comfort, and inspiration, we tend to think of God as the Holy Spirit — that still small voice who prompts us and helps us to pray — the one who helps us grow into the Kingdom.
As St. Paul reminds us, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs: heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if we in fact suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him” (Romans 8.15-17: NRSVUE).
Jesus prefaces his final remarks about the coming of the Holy Spirit with these words, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” Then Jesus says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you” (John 16. 12-15; NRSV). So, the Holy Spirit teaches, reminds, and guides us as it glorifies Jesus Christ and gives us what belongs to Christ.
I have always liked the phrase, “he will guide you into all truth.” If the disciples had already been living in all truth, there would be no reason for the Spirit to guide them, and us, into further truth. In Hebrews 1.1-3 (NRSV) we read, “Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his wonderful word.”
Many interpret these verses to mean that Jesus Christ, as the fullness of God’s revelation, closes all further revelation. Perhaps so, if we think of Jesus Christ as revealing the fullness, the completeness, of God’s love, but are we not like the disciples? Can we not also hear Jesus saying to us, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” Who among us can say that we model fully the love of God as revealed through Jesus Christ? The Spirit teaches us, reminds us of Jesus words and actions. If we permit, the Spirit guides and prompts us that Jesus Christ may be glorified. May we permit the Spirit to guide us into all truth.
This week’s Reflections column was written by the Rev. Larry Ort, retired Episcopal priest.
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