I
wonder if you can remember how you felt when you first set foot in
this building. If you're a visitor, and arrived only half an hour ago
it will be pretty easy, but long standing congregation members may
find it a bit harder.
For
me, it's a vivid memory.
I
was a very small child, brought here by my parents...who were
enthusiastic church-crawlers, so I was no stranger to visits to all
sorts of places of worship.
Usually,
though, they were small, quite dark and very very old – so the
impact of stepping into this place of openness and light was
extraordinary.
I
never knew God was so BIG
– was the first thought that crossed my mind, as I sat
myself down firmly on the floor by the West Screen.
More
than 4 decades on, not much has changed!
Certainly,
as I walked up the aisle together with my church family from
Cainscross 2 weeks ago, to be installed as Canon Pastor I felt very
very small indeed...
I
looked at the figure standing between Christ's feet on the great
tapestry and thought
“Yes,
that's me. Too small for the space. Too small for the job. Dwarfed by
the majesty of God and the grandeur of this holy place. Help...”
or, more Biblically, “Woe is me”
And
of course, that's without the theology.
Isn't
it interesting that the lectionary gives us Isaiah's account of his
own call – in that holiest of holies which was filled with the
glory of God's presence...on this day above all days...Trinity
Sunday...
It's
there, I think, because of the “Holy, holy, holy” - but it seems
to me that as we set ourselves up to engage with the doctrine of the
Trinity, its also a valuable reminder of our own intellectual
inadequacy, an acknowledgement of just how small we are.
Because
nobody can pretend that it's EASY to understand the Trinity....and
today makes that obvious.
One
way and another I've been wrestling with it for years. I
was baptised in the church of the Holy Trinity Hastings...spent my
undergraduate years at the College of the Most Holy and Indivisible
Trinity, Cambridge – and I was ordained in the Cathedral Chuch of
St Peter and the most holy and undivided Trinity in Gloucester. Note
the distinction between those two labels if you would...It does sound
rather as if, while Trinity Cambridge is dedicated to God
the Trinity, indivisible, Gloucester Cathedral is dedicated to a
Trinity who could
be divided, but happens not to be. Something to ponder, now that I
can consider such heresies from a safe distance. Because, of course,
today is also known in the trade as “air your favourite heresy”
Sunday. The theology of the day seems designed to make the unwary,
whether preacher or listener, feel very small indeed...and not a
little stupid. Small wonder that incumbents the world over invite
their curates to preach, and that wet-behind-the-ears Canons also
find themselves rolled out for the occasion.
Woe is me....
This
is the day, too, when the Athanasian creed comes into its own, and
I'm reminded of just why it isn't our default expression of the
faith.
8.
The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit
uncreated.
9.
The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy
Spirit incomprehensible.
10.
The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal.
11.
And yet they are not three eternals but one eternal.
12.
As also there are not three uncreated nor three incomprehensible, but
one uncreated and one incomprehensible.
13.
So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy
Spirit almighty.
- And yet they are not three almighties, but one almighty.
Is
your head spinning? Do you feel utterly inadequate? If so, you're
probably on the right tack!
Today
is a day to give let go of any intellectual pretensions...to
acknowledge the limits of our understanding...God is indeed a mystery
– but not one to be solved by a clever detective, rather one to
enter in to, with wonder, love and praise.
So
better, today, to stand before the mystery that is beyond all words
and simply worship. The seraphim give us the lead with their cry of
“Holy, holy, holy” and even their chorus of praise is
overwhelming, making the building shake as the clouds of incense
reflect their proclamation that “the whole earth is full of God's
glory”.
In the
face of this – we needs must fall silent – and it might be
tempting to leave this sermon right there. There is, after all,
rather too much irony in proclaiming the need to fall silent, and
then continuing for the full 10 minute semon!
But in
Isaiah's account of his theophany, the story contiues. Having set a
scene in which awe and wonder are the only possible response, Isaiah
takes us in a new direction.
Confronted
with the glorious sight of God in his majesty, his own state becomes
obvious.
“I
am a man of unclean lips and I dwell among a people of unclean lips
YET mine eyes have seen.....”
It is
in fact only that encounter WITH the Lord of hosts that enables
Isaiah to recognise just how far from holy he is. Yes, there is the
sense of unwarranted privilege “YET mine eyes have seen” but also
the certainty that it is the light of God's presence that enables him
to recognise his state. For surely, the closer we come to God the
greater our sense of our own shortcomings. It is because we glimpse
ourselves and our world by that light that we begin to understand
just how flawed, how broken we really are...tiny figures dwarved by
God's majesty
“I
am a man of unclean lips...AND mine eyes have seen”.
But do
not despair.
I'm
reminded of a story told by Adrian Plass, in which an old-fashioned
hellfire preacher, having spent a long long time reminding his
congregation of their burden of sin, shame and shortcomings, places a
chair at the head of the nave and says
“Imagine
Our Lord is sitting there....Imagine his dreadful majesty...Imagine
that he calls you forward. Aren't you terrified, awestruck,
appalled?” - and Adrian's inner dialogue as he realises joyfully
“Our
Lord is sitting there...He's calling me forward. He will make
EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT”
Because,
of course, the God of Isaiah's awe-filled vision is the self-same God
who, incredibly, loves the world, loves US so much...The same God we
meet in Jesus...The same God whose Spirit transforms us day by day...
Trinity
Sunday is, above all, about God in relationship...God in relationship
with Godself – in that ceaseless love that circles from Father to
Son to Spirit, filling all creation with delight
And
God in relationship with us...for, like Isaiah, we are called – not
in a voice of imperious command, but in one of gracious invitation,
which forces nothing upon us.
Whom
shall I send? And who will go for us?
This,
of course, is why we so often hear this passage read at ordinations,
or at the start of a new ministry...but that question is one to
respond to no matter where we are in life.
God,
enthroned in glory, surrounded by all the company of heaven, needs
you...NEEDS you to collaborate with God's work of
transforming grace in the world.
Graham
Sutherland left space between the pierced feet of Christ for us to
find a sanctuary. It's a space in which we will feel, rightly, very
small...but in which we are totally safe and secure. Place yourself
there for a moment...and ask to share the perspective from which
Christ sees this building and each person who comes here...Ask to
share His his love for each one who comes through the doors, his
grief for the pain each bears or inflicts.
Ask
that the Spirit will lead you into all truth – and all love as
well...then, if you will, echo Isaiah's words
Here
I am. Send me
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