Imagining the divine

With apologies to my childhood pastors, I can only remember one children’s message from my entire childhood, and no, I cannot recall the name of the pastor! It was most likely on Trinity Sunday because the pastor showed us an ice cube, a glass of water and steam rising from a tea kettle. Water can be found in three forms: vapour, liquid and solid. So is God found in three persons: Father, Son and Spirit. This analogy might not pass the modalistic heresy test, but it was sure memorable for me.

The moral here isn’t to skip the children’s message in worship because kids won’t remember. Nor is it to always have one that is object oriented and perfectly sound in theology. Rather, I encourage you to discuss and imagine the fullness of God with others, knowing that we cannot grasp God in God’s fullness. I might not have reached a solid theological understanding of the Holy Trinity that day, but my eyes were opened to a deeper desire to know and understand God.

We best see and know who God is through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Word of God, who promised the Spirit of truth. This same Christ is present when two or three gather in Christ’s name.

Thank you, O God, that you continue to speak to your people. Give me ears to listen. Give me voice to share. Amen. — ANS