From the Deacon’s Desk 5/10/2020

Dear Friends:

Today we hear from the Gospel of John 14:1-12 which is very interesting because Jesus is asked by Philip, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “I have been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” Jesus is telling his disciples that he and the Father are one. If you remember back on the 2nd Sunday of Easter, Jesus told the disciples “as the father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this he breathed on them and said to them, “receive the Holy Spirit.”

This is very important because although the Trinity will not become clear to Christians until somewhere between the 3rd and 4th century, Jesus is telling us in these two Gospels that there are three distinct persons in the Holy Trinity. Jesus also makes it clear in the Gospel today that when we speak to one person of the Holy Trinity we are speaking to all three. This is one of the greatest mysteries of our faith. Theologians have struggled for centuries trying to understand and explain this mystery. Every time I think I understand it, I realize that I really don’t.

I guess it doesn’t matter if we understand it or can explain it. I think what is important is that we remember that all three are there when we pray to any one of them. Can you imagine how much God loves us? He comes to us totally and fully in the three persons of the Holy Trinity. He gives us his all. Every part of his being! Maybe it’s our turn to give something back to him!

Let us all pray daily that this virus will be gone from our midst very soon. Pray also for those who suffer daily because of it!

Peace and All Good!

Deacon Jim