Hey, Church fans! I preached without a text today, so if you want the whole homily, it’s best to watch it here on our YouTube channel. A short summary of the main points are below. If you want to see the whole Mass, check it out here on Facebook.
This Sunday I will be preaching on a way of looking at the Most Holy Trinity called the “personalist model.” I have found it very helpful personally and hope that you do too.
It is a bold endeavor to ponder the reality of Almighty God. He is at once completely transcendent. Yet at the same time, through the Church, he has chosen to be incredibly accessible. While we cannot comprehend every thing about God, through revelation and reason, we can understand some things about God.
I often say that theology is not rocket science. Quite simply, it is all about relationship. The same is true about Almighty God. In short, through the Church, we are invited into a relationship we call “full communion” with the God who is perfect communion itself. We reflect that dynamic to others. But how?
Since we are made in the image and likeness of God, we start by looking at ourselves. As human persons we have:
1. Identity—By the age of two, most people have a sense of self as distinct from others.
2. Self-Communication—Eventually we communicate to others about ourselves, share our attributes, feelings, desires, and needs.
3. The Relationship/Animating Principle—between identity and self-communication. “So, tell me about yourself!” Usually we use words, but sometimes we use music, art, poetry, etc. Words need breath to be heard.
Now, if we can be so bold as to apply these things to God, we find:
1. Identity—God’s nature is to exist. He is identity itself. So much so that his revealed name is “I AM.”
2. Self-Communication—God reveals himself not only in creation but also through his Word, which “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). God’s perfect revelation was Jesus Christ.
3. Animating principle—it’s no coincidence that the same word for “spirit” in Hebrew is the same word for “breath.” It is a heady thing to realize that the Spirit that animated the life of Christ is the same Holy Spirit that animates the life of every Christian.
“Words need breath to be heard”. Absolutely! I once listened to poet Li-Young Lee give a keynote address at the Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference. He said that speech is made on what he called “the dying breath” (the exhale). Think about it. While it is possible to speak upon inhalation, it sounds weird. I have also noticed that you can taste your food better when you exhale (through your nose of course!) While we give much credence to “inspiration”, the real magic happens with the “dying breath.”