Dear Friends
Special thanks to Dr Gilbert Lawrence who is sharing the Good News with us this morning.
Over the last few days around 150 of us have been meeting in Lotus River for our Annual Synod and today all the clergy get to preach in different congregations. I find this a helpful exercise in that it reminds me that I am part of a much larger body. A larger body that challenges and comforts me in its rich diversity. A larger body that nurtures me and holds me accountable. I am preaching in Khayelitsha this morning and I am looking forward to it very much. (Make the circle BIGGER!)
According to the Christian Calendar, today is Trinity Sunday. Trinity Sunday is a rather underrated Holy Day compared to Christmas, Easter and Pentecost. But it really is quite unique in that it higlights a doctrine of the early church rather than mark an event recorded in Scripture like all the other Holy Days. It is not without Scriptural reference however, the most well known being Jesus’ simple reply to Philip who asked Jesus to “show us the Father”. Jesus replied: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). This must be one of the most radical things Jesus ever said. If it is true, and I trust that it is, then it means that we should measure every statement about God against the teachings and example of Jesus. In other words if what is being said about God “fits” Jesus then we can go ahead and say—”yes that is Godly” – but if it doesn’t sound like Jesus we reject it as an accurate statement about God. This may sound simple but it demands we all get to know Jesus really well to be able to use him as our Godly measuring rod.
Grace, Alan.
Sunday, 30th May 2010
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