What can make us whole?

A sudden and unexpected loss can devastate the life of a family and a community. We see this not only in the history of our own families and communities but also in the life of many people around the world. This loss come about through the effects of nature, through the actions of people or simply through our own mortality. This trauma and ruction in the fabric of what appears normal can cause as to ask questions of ourselves and our society. How do we stand by those in great need? How do we find life in the midst of what seeks to bring about destruction and death? What can we do differently to address those forces which we know can wreak such havoc?

Jesus is not immune to such events in his own life and in the life of the communities in which he walked. He did not seek to add moral judgement to these circumstances but sought to respond to the immediate need of the person. By seeking compassion and mercy as the touchstone of our Christian lives we can start to see our own response to such events. We are called to see the person first and respond to them with concern for what will make them whole.

Taken, blessed, broken and shared

When a person receives the Body and Blood of Christ in communion this is more than just mere food. There is a profound link with the person of Jesus. His life and memories start to be blended with our own. The importance of this communion is not just a spiritual reality but a physical one. We are linked into the heart of the Trinity and into the midst of his living Body, the Church. This communion recognises that our humanity and the sharing of life with each other is the visible sign of an invisible reality. We become one with each other in the person of Christ.

As Christians this becomes a reality in the way our lives are taken, blessed, broken and shared. Our life is never just our own and our mission is never just to be in a solitary relationship with God. The communion recognises that we are bound to each other to live the Good News of Jesus Christ through our faithful pilgrimage with each other. This is truly food for the journey. A food which nourishes both body and soul. We are that living memory that Jesus walks with us and shares his life with us.

Encountering God in the divine dance of creation

In a time of scientific enquiry, we become use to the advances which are made by understanding the data we can collect about the environment in which we live and the way we can influence it for the good of all. This dynamic flow of discovery and application allow us to grow both as individuals and communities. Trinity Sunday allows us to discover that this dynamic flow of creation is at the heart of all creation. Our understanding of God as Trinity can often cause some confusion. But I think that the idea of God as the dance, the dancer and the dancing engages with the dynamic and creative power we witness in the universe. God can never be analysed at just one moment of time or in one movement over time. There is a deeply engage life of God which seeks to engage us in a divine relationship which captures all three aspects of God which acknowledge a trinity of persons, as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This seeks to understand a God who is ever new and ever creative; a God who seeks to draw us into relationship, and who gives gifts which make it possible to experience God’s life giving potential in our own time and place. We celebrate that our lives are caught up in this divine economy of love and life in which nothing is lost and which seeks all for the good of all.

The transforming power of God

We are called and gifted to understand how God entrusts us with charisms for the good of the whole community. At Pentecost, we recognize both the affective and effective ways of being a disciple. The gifts of the Holy Spirit entrusted to us at Pentecost allow us the opportunity to grow in a personal relationship with God through wisdom, understanding, counsel, internal resilience, knowledge, piety, and reverence. This would be seen as the personal desire of God to know us from the inside out. However, as disciples of Jesus, we are also entrusted with gifts for the good of the whole community which are not solely for our own good but which help to build people up in faith. They help us to acknowledge that each of us is part of a community for its good and never just our own. The signs of a charism are that it has a timeless quality which feels like prayer when we are living it out, it has an ability to respond to the deep seated need of another and it produces grace-filled fruits which are never just the result of hard work. By allowing God to work through us we experience a prayer which draws us into action and an action which becomes our prayer. 

Transformed from the inside out

Our lives will always witness to what we consider of true value. What are we prepared to let go of to discover our own mission? This is not meant to alienate us from our community or from ourselves but to ask, how does my life become a catalyst for change? This is not a change which diminishes our humanity, but it is a journey of discovery which allows us to be most ourselves. This is not a call to just observe life but rather a call to participate in the heart of life. It calls us to discover how our lives witness what we truly value and consider of greatest worth. What brings the greatest glory to God in the way we live and act? Our lives are never just our own. They have an ability not only to inform others or to form them in ways of being present to God. Ultimately, they call for a deep intuitive sense that we are transformed from the inside out. That we become truly ourselves when our interior lives match our exterior actions. Each person is called to be a witness of faith to others by the life they live. Listen to how God calls you to bring the good news of his life and forgiveness to others.