Tuesday 20 May 2008

Background

Many scholars believe that the fourth gospel - John's Gospel -was written after the other three. It isn't surprising then, tofind that John says more than Matthew did about the Trinity, thoughwrapped up in a dense prose style that is typical of John. Everyword, every phrase, seems to need to be unpacked and examined frommany angles.

Jesus has already been acknowledged as the most perfect possiblerepresentation of the Father within the human sphere. He takes whatthe Father has given him and shares it with his disciples. But soonhe will leave them, and this sharing what the Father gives will betaken up by another advocate, the Holy Spirit, who reminds them ofwhat Jesus has said and explains it all to them.

We need to be aware that anything we say about God is almostlaughably, pathetically inadequate. But we have to try. The Godwhose 'beyond-ness' is expressed in the stories about creation, itsvastness and complexity, is the same as the God we meet in thehuman Jesus, and is the same as we encounter as inner illuminationand inspiration in the Holy Spirit.

We're talking about the unity of experience - awe at nature'sgrandeur and beauty, gratitude for human example and friendship,the release of creativity within ourselves - all these are one andthe same experience, though filtered through the blurred and oftendistorted lenses of our own personal stories. This is at the heartof the unique, distinctive - and, it has to be saidincomprehensible - doctrine that we are invited to ponder thisweek.

To Ponder

What is mystery? Is it a problem we've just notsolved yet? Or is it an acknowledgement that not everything willgive in under the relentless pressure of our human intellect, andthat we have to learn other ways of sharing a space with it? Whatdo you think?

How do you understand the relationship betweenthe Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit? Does it matter to you whatthat relationship is?

How do you make the teaching of Jesus yourown?