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" The Oneness Of Humanity"
“I know who God is. He is a father and a mother, who is happiest when he has His child, Jesus, upon His knee, and resting upon His heart, the Holy Spirit.” This is how St Therese of Lisieux once shared her humble concept of the Holy Trinity. Music is a fundamental and essentially mystical part of our existence, so for a major paper at seminary, I attempted to explain in music-science terms the mystery of the ‘Trinity’. For example, it takes ‘three’ strings behind a piano key vibrating together to produce just ‘one’ unified note. Also, it takes ‘air’, a ‘vocal cord’, and ‘mind’ to create ‘one’ sung or spoken sound. It was well received, but failed to fully convince many, since some keys need only ‘one’ or ‘two’ strings to make ‘one’ diatonic note. Perhaps this is why the idea of the Trinity – ‘three persons in one’ – was not easily accepted by the early church. In fact, it became a rigorous, hotly contested debate in the 4th C all across the known world when Emperor Constantine tried to formalize his newly adopted state religion, Christianity, for unifying his people. Heads of state and church assembled in ‘councils’ to tackle this issue, a key objective to write a universal Creed as in the Nicaean Creed from the ‘First Council of Nicaea’ in 325. However, even after the ‘First Council of Constantinople’ in 381, the international debate re the Trinity, including the contrasting views on the humanity vs divinity of Jesus, did not rest for decades among several Christian sects, notably the Arianists, Docetists, Donatists, Gnostics, Marcionites, and Montanists. The topic was also debated in the marketplace, workplace, public office and home. It was as much the topic of concern then as concerns re global warming and climate change are today. So, how did it end? In truth, it was never formally resolved, but also there was never a formal schism or separation between these sects. The promoters of the Trinitarian understanding of God simply gained prominence over time with the help of good theology (a study of the faith rapidly developing) and spiritual commentary. So, how is the Trinity now understood and expressed in our Roman Catholic faith? When the Church refers to the ‘Trinity’ (a word which comes from two Latin words, ‘trinitas’ meaning “triad” and ‘trinus’ which means “threefold”; also the combination of ‘tri’ meaning “three” and ‘unity’ meaning “one”) it is proclaiming that God is one God, but three ‘coeternal’ and ‘consubstantial’ persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are understood to be ‘distinct’, yet are of one “substance, essence, or nature" which is called “homoousios”. “Nature" is what one is, whereas a “person” is who one is. So, does this bring us closure? If not, you are not alone. Even today’s scholars are still grappling with this mystery. But isn’t that the point? It is a ‘mystery’! Our minds are far too limited to comprehend or equal the mind of God. Rather, let us focus on what is more important, that, like the Trinity, we are one with them, with the Trinity, love being the cement binding us together as one. In Jn 17.20-23, Jesus asks the Father, “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” The legendary British poet, scholar, soldier, and cleric, ‘John Donne’, one of the greatest authors of spiritual and mystical writing of all time, acknowledged Christ’s call to his Father for all humanity and creation to become ‘one’ with the following words, later set to music by composer ‘Sir William Harris’ (1883-1973): “Bring us, O Lord God, at our last awakening, into the house and gate of heaven: to enter into that gate, and dwell in that house, where there shall be no darkness nor dazzling, but one equal light; no noise nor silence, but one equal music; no fears nor hopes, but one equal possession of spirit; no ends nor beginnings, but one equal eternity; in the habitation of thy glory and dominion, world without end. Amen.” And so, altogether in our ‘oneness’ with God and each other, let us give praise to the God the Father, and to God the Son, and to God the Holy Spirit. Amen. – Rev Fr Christopher Tracey, Saint Joseph Parish, Saugeen Shores, Ontario
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"The Empowerment Of Humanity"
Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit”. And so, we were sent, along with the first followers of Jesus, and empowered by the Holy Spirit for our missionary journey on this day, Pentecost, many years ago. And the celebration of this momentous event is nothing less than the celebration of the beginning of Christianity! The followers of Christ, first called to share Christ’s promise of salvation with the world, their profile then raised up as Christ himself was raised up into heaven in the Ascension, are now spiritually empowered by the power of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost for the work ahead. As we say in Baptism: “This is our Faith. And we are proud to profess it, in Christ Jesus our Lord.” It is important to note: Christianity is clearly an ‘active’ faith. It thrives on the skills and talents of her followers in the active evangelization of Christ’s message. It is not a weekend faith, nor a secret gift we hold close like a good hand of cards as in Kenny Rogers’ song, ‘the Gambler’. We show the life-saving cards Christ dealt us. ‘Faith’ is a gift shared. And what is this gift? That gift is ‘love’. And love ‘heals’. Faith equals love, and love in essence equals healing. This is possibly the most important aspect of our faith, because when love is healing, it restores the human soul, it gives people hope, and assures all of humanity that we, too, will be reunited with Christ in a paradise of peace and joy, if only we love and support each other on our mutual journeys to redemption. This was Christ’s hope for humanity – that its love and healing support of each other would lead to their redemption. Today we were empowered by this mysterious, profound power of the Holy Spirit to share this healing love. As our Confirmands will joyfully experience this Fall, Knowledge, Understanding, Wisdom, Counsel, Strength, Reverence and Awe for the Lord will be enhanced and enlarged in their lives as part of this empowerment. But what might this ‘active’ faith and healing love look like? Last Sunday, we discussed six habits of a faith-driven life of love and healing: 1) Respect individuality. 2) Create spaces for people to grow. 3) Encourage dialogue. 4) Negotiate expectations. 5) Enjoy our differences. And 6) Focus on those who are suffering most … which most echoes Christ’s call in his very first Beatitude: “Blessed are the Poor, for theirs is the Kingdom of God.” ‘Poor’ in the original Greek, ptochoi, means: the afflicted, helpless, needy, lacking money, even virtues. No one perhaps fits this description more than those who suffer from addiction. Deaths from the ‘opioid’ crisis rival the deaths from Covid-19. So, how can we address this self-harm? Making drugs illegal does not stop people from using them. Health expert, Mark Tyndall, from Vancouver’s east side would say these 6 habits definitely help: respect them; create a safe space for them to recover and rebuild; encourage dialogue by listening to their stories, perhaps uncover the old wound which needs healing; negotiate plans and goals for recovery; enjoy and learn from the differences between their lives and ours. And so, we focus on those who suffer. There are other addictions: alcoholism, anorexia, self-harm, pornography. But there are also many more which we may not think of, because all addictions come from the desire to dull the pain of a hurt felt very long ago, often in our childhood: over-indulgence in eating, shopping, sleeping, watching TV or even exercise. Even over-working for financial security or power and control or trying to establish the perfect reputation are addictions when they slowly enslave us. Sadly, they also harm us physically, hurt our relationships, and especially hinder our closeness to God! Chuck DeGroat, author of ‘Toughest People To Love’ says the goal is not just for sobriety or behavioural change. It is holy ‘transformation’. A therapist told him the only real ‘cure’ he’d ever seen was a deeper union with God. “The addict’s hunger and thirst [for something besides drugs or over-achievement to dull the ache of a psychological wound] was satisfied in finding great joy and union in the Eucharist, contemplative prayer, or in long periods of silence and solitude.” Faith equals love equals healing. Pentecost entrusted us with this love, support and healing of each other. “As you did it to one of these, you did it to me.” Let us answer this ‘call’ in whatever way the Holy Spirit touches us with his fire of love. – Rev Fr Christopher Tracey, Saint Joseph Parish, Saugeen Shores, Ontario "The Ascension Of Humanity "
The story of Christ’s ‘Ascension’ into heaven is one of the most remarkable and superlative narratives in the New Testament Gospels. It is the glorious, dramatic climax of Christ’s life and ministry on earth, though clearly not its conclusion. Mark tells us Jesus commissioned the apostles to proclaim his gospel to all creation. Then he “was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.” Luke gives us another perspective, telling us that while Jesus was blessing his disciples, “he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.” However, Matthew’s gospel only tells us the eleven apostles went to the mountain in Galilee which Christ had directed them to. Meeting him there, Jesus commissions them to spread his good news, and then the gospel ends with no mention of Christ ascending. But perhaps it is understood, since Jesus mysteriously appears and leaves in Matthew’s and Luke’s gospels several times after his resurrection. Meanwhile, John’s gospel has no mention of the Ascension, but rather closes with Christ’s last appearance to and final dialogue with Peter before John’s final words. So, we might ask, did Christ truly lift up into the air, disappear in a cloud and then take his place on a throne next to God’s right hand? Theologians, scholars, and bible historians will tell us it should be helpful to know that what we are reading is essentially symbolic, a means by which people of Christ’s time explained the mystery of Jesus’ coming and going in spirit. For e.g., heaven throughout the bible is often associated with a place above the clouds, so it makes sense writers of the time would use this imagery to explain what happened. Also, Jesus sitting at God’s right hand is more a figure of speech to explain his new role as Priest, Prophet and King, reminiscent of rulers of Roman times. There is even archival evidence that the Ascension story seems to have been added at the end of Mark’s gospel many years after the original manuscript appeared, perhaps a kind of compilation of the references from Matthew and Luke as a means of unifying the three synoptic gospels for catechizing of new Christians. But the bottom-line is whatever and however Christ returned to God, his Father, is a tremendous, unfathomable mystery, far beyond the comprehension of his apostles and followers, and, frankly, far beyond our understanding as well. What is important is not to be distracted by this mysterious event from what truly matters: that the Ascension is really about the ascension of us, a raising up of our profile as Christ’s ambassadors of his message of love, the great, final commission. This is what the gospel writers wanted us to pay attention to, to respond to: Christ’s call to preach his gospel. This is probably why the mysterious event of Christ’s ascension was not as important to the writers of Matthew and John, because it was the call to evangelization which is what our role as Christians is all about. In effect, the four gospels have not even been finished. They now wait for the final chapter to be written when Christ returns to bless all of his worthy disciples. As Christians, we might ask ourselves: what does this commissioning look like? In his journals, Fr. Henri Nouwen records his attendance at a celebration of Christ’s Ascension at Jean Vanier’s ‘L’Arche’ community in Trosly, France. Because the Ascension is a public holiday, hundreds of people came to play and pray, make purchases of religious items, and to hear director’s speeches. But the theme was not about the mysterious Ascension, but about how we can respond to Christ’s call. They focused on six critical, fundamental habits we would be wise to adopt: 1) Show charitable respect for every unique, individual human being. 2) Create spaces where people can grow and mature together in peace and love. 3) Always encourage and remain in positive, constructive dialogue with each other. 4) Keep involved in adapting and harmonizing mutual expectations. 5) Enjoy the differences between us. 6) Always focus attention on those who are suffering most, physically and mentally. Next Sunday we celebrate Pentecost, when Christ sent the Holy Spirit to prepare us and empower us for our role in evangelization. Next week we will look closer at how these gifts of the Holy Spirit can be used in our work as Christians. – Rev Fr Christopher Tracey, Saint Joseph Parish, Saugeen Shores, Ontario “The Love Inside Our Hearts”
Again, this Sunday our readings continue to define Love, the very foundation of our Christian Faith, as today we also celebrate Peter’s extending Christ’s good news far beyond its Jewish roots into the gentile world where its saving power, the power of the Holy Spirit, quickly restored their souls with the grace of the ‘One’ True God. Scholars have noted this happened before their baptisms, a very important step in the growth of the early Church which illustrates the ‘lively, living, loving’ nature of our faith at work within the world. Meanwhile, John provides one of the most beautiful definitions of love, love in action, God who is love itself, in our Christian sensibility: “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love, does not know God, for God is love.” John is making it very clear that love is needed for a true understanding of what life is all about, and an understanding of who God is and God’s importance in our life journey. In fact, love is our best teacher. Christ knew how critical it was for us to learn this importance of love in our life. He illustrates how love is the source of life, that love grows and emanates from one person to the other, just as how the Father has loved and enabled Christ in his ministry, and Christ has loved and enabled us. “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love … by keeping my commandments, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. … I am giving you these commands, so that you may love one another.” Therefore, we are in-turn to share Christ’s love with each other, transforming our communities into lush, vibrant, vast, thriving gardens of love which heal us, and bring us restful peace and sparkling joy. “I have said these things to you, so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” We will experience this exhilarating joy when we practice Christ’s commands to put his love into action: “You are my friends if you do what I command you. I am giving you these commands, so that you may love one another.” Christ also makes one of the most profound statements of all time regarding the quality, relevance and depth of love living within the heart of God, within our Faith, and within our hearts as Christians, a statement which has echoed from his lips into the annals of history, something he profoundly demonstrated on the cross: “No one has greater love than this, [than] to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” We may not ever be called to give up our lives for someone else, but we all have the ability to love, even if it is an inconvenience, even if it means sacrificing our pride, or even if it means offering and showing our love for someone un-loveable. There is a poem by Mary Dow Brine (1816-1913) called ‘Somebody’s Mother’ [Felleman, Hazel, ed. The Best Loved Poems of the American People. Garden City, NY: Garden City Books, 1936] a favourite my mother often recited. An excellent example of love in action, I would like to share it with all the mothers, children and spouses in our community in honour of ‘Mother’s Day’: The woman was old and ragged and gray; And bent with the chill of the Winter's day. The street was wet with a recent snow And the woman's feet were aged and slow. She stood at the crossing and waited long, Alone, uncared for, amid the throng Of human beings who passed her by Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eyes. Down the street, with laughter and shout, Glad in the freedom of "school let out," Came the boys like a flock of sheep, Hailing the snow piled white and deep. Past the woman so old and gray Hastened the children on their way. None offering a helping hand to her – So meek, so timid, afraid to stir Lest the carriage wheels or the horses' feet Should crowd her down in the slippery street. At last came one of the merry troop, The happiest laddie of all the group; He paused beside her and whispered low, "I'll help you cross, if you wish to go." Her aged hand on his strong, young arm She placed, and so, without hurt or harm, He guided the trembling feet along, Proud that his own were firm and strong. Then back again to his friends he went, His young heart happy and well content. "She's somebody's mother, boys, you know For all she's aged and poor and slow, And I hope some fellow will lend a hand To help my mother, you understand, If ever she's poor and old and gray, When her own dear boy is far away." And ‘somebody's mother’ bowed low her head In her home that night, and the prayer she said Was "God be kind to the noble boy, Who is somebody's son, and pride and joy!" May God continue to keep you well and safe with peace and joy in his embrace. Happy Mothers’ Day everyone. – Rev Fr Christopher Tracey, Saint Joseph Parish, Saugeen Shores, Ontario "The Christ Inside our Hearts"
Today our readings are full of various expressions from St. Paul and Christ himself of what our faith is all about: Love! Love which dwells in our hearts; love which is expressed through action, not just words; love which is truth, and the truth is love, love, Christ himself, mysteriously dwelling within us and us in him by means of the Holy Spirit; Christ, the vine, cultivated and nurtured by our Creator Father, the vine who feeds us love through the power of the Holy Spirit through our spiritual veins, we, the branches, who need the vine to survive on our life journeys. It might be easy to say from a logical, scientific point of view that all this is pure analogy. These statements are only ‘symbolic concepts’, put together poetically to help us relate to an invisible God. After all, didn’t Jesus simply use the idea of a vine and branches to explain our spiritual connectivity with himself and God, because it was something people of his time could relate to in terms which our practical, logical world could comprehend, then and now, much like the parables? Indeed, Christ was trying to define for us something of a much higher nature than we can ever understand with our limited abilities. But this does not mean what Jesus and Paul are telling us is not real. In fact, what Jesus is trying to illustrate is more real than the material world we see and perceive. The world of the unseen, especially the unseen which dwells in our hearts, has perhaps always been a challenge to comprehend, yet alone to define. Yet the desire to understand our unseen, spiritual side and our connection with creation is more prevalent than we realize. Cinema alone is busy trying to figure out the unseen, spiritual side of humanity from the idea of ‘the unseen Force’ in Star Wars, to the concept that we exist in a contrived unseen ‘grid’ in the Matrix. But creation itself reflects the unseen Jesus speaks of. Job [12.7-10] tells us, “But ask the animals, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you; ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of every human.” We can go even deeper with Job’s examination of creation by asking, “What is it we are feeling inside when we behold the beauty of the world, beauty as in Paul’s ‘truth’ perhaps defined in a baby’s smile, a field of flowers, a blazing sunset or vast landscape of water? What does this inner response of the heart tell us? Is it not the Spirit of God awakening in our hearts, moving us, touching us, igniting the awe of Creation in us in ways which words cannot describe? This suggests we are comprised of an even deeper unseen force, our spiritual nature which connects us to Christ and God. Very difficult to describe, yet this is what Christ is trying to illustrate for us with his image of the vine and branches. If we live our lives being more conscious of our spiritual nature, our connectivity to Christ who is mysteriously dwelling within us, and love one another - not just in words, but in actions - our life journeys will be more meaningful and fruitful. Paul says, “Whoever obeys his commandments abides in him, and he abides in them. By this we know that he abides in us by the [Holy] Spirit which he has given us.” And Christ promises such marvellous things for those who respect this connection. “Abide in me as I abide in you. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. Whoever abides in me and I in them bears much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” Christ is truly in our hearts, the source of all love and truth, peace and joy in life. John O’Donohue, beloved author of Anam Cara, Gaelic for ‘soul friend’, once said: “The heart is the inner face of your life. The human journey strives to make this inner face beautiful. It is here love [Christ] gathers within you. Love is absolutely vital for a human life. For love alone can awaken what is divine within you. In love, you grow and come home to your self. When you learn to love and let yourself be loved, you come home to the hearth of your own spirit, … warm and sheltered.” The divine is awakened in us by love; Divine or Di-Vine in Latin ‘Of the “Vine”’. And love requires action, not just words, a commitment to engage both Christ, the Vine, who nourishes us, and each other, the branches who can fill each other’s lives with spiritual gratification. If we gather regularly with Christ in our hearts through prayer and silence, he will give us what we all need to live hopeful, fruitful lives. – Rev Fr Christopher Tracey, Saint Joseph Parish, Saugeen Shores, Ontario |
Father's Blog
Rev. Fr. Christopher Tracey
St. Joseph Parish Pastor Archives
January 2022
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