Three Loves

Luke 10:25-37

A lawyer stood up to and asked a question of Jesus. The lawyers referred to in the Bible are not like lawyers we know, as there is no distinction between civil and religious laws; therefore he is an expert on the laws of God as per the Torah. Just as in today's age there are multiple interpretations of Jewish Law. I can name several Jewish sects that existed during Jesus' ministry, such as Pharisees, Sadducees, Essences, Herodians, and Zealots and each group needed experts. This lawyer decides to test Jesus. But it is not clear if he is testing him to say what the lawyer believes is the right answer, or to reveal the Father to him as per verse 22. We will not know for Jesus turns the question back on the lawyer. What do you read in the law, as you are the expert? And the lawyer answers with the Shema which would make perfect sense. Deuteronomy 6:4-7 "Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise." It is clear that this is a very important part of the law, as it should be taught to the children and recited everywhere. This is not a surprising answer in the least, but the lawyer does add a command from Leviticus 19:18 "You shall not take vengeance of bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord." Jesus agrees with this expert's answer of the three loves, Loving God, yourself and your neighbor. And Jesus commands, "…do this, and you will live."

Now I believe the lawyer has moved from testing Jesus once Jesus agreed with his assessment. Now the law expert has a problem, he does not completely understand his own answer, thus he asks who his neighbor is.

This reminds me of when I learned to sale at the Longshore Sailing School in Westport, Connecticut. I was about 12 years of age and loved going to the school, as we learned in a classroom and on Long Island Sound in small two person sailboats. See I was very proud of the two yellow t-shirts I won. I received those two shirts because I aced the two written exams. Now there were also blue t-shirts awarded to the two best sailors on the water. I was a very good sailor, as well, but I certainly knew all the little details well enough to answer them on paper. After our exams the next day we would get our results and have an all day free sail. Upon receiving my second yellow jersey in the morning and changing into the new shirt to start the day's sailing. The instructor reminded me that my usual partner was not able to attend the day before and therefore would need to stay ashore to take his exam. The instructor said, "You aced your exam, you can go out alone." I never felt frightened sailing until that moment. I was scared to put my knowledge to the test. The boats we were learning on were designed for a two person crew, in that the jib lines cannot reach the tiller. I pushed off; scared about putting my book smarts to work. Within a few minutes I realized I knew exactly how to sail this boat alone. I left the jib down except for a time when I was running. I was fine, until the instructor told me to head to the dock to pick up my partner. He was nowhere to be seen, so I thought I would dock the boat and go get him. Well I made three passes at the dock and realized that I would not be able to get close enough to the dock and be able to let go the tiller and tie the boat as it was choppy. Well I decided I had to do one of two things. Go back out and get another boat to dock and help, or run my boat ashore. I was about to decide when I saw my partner running across the beach with his orange life vest. I then docked and picked up my mate. I learned that day how important it was to go do want you know.

Jesus then tells the parable of the Good Samaritan to ask the lawyer who the neighbor was to the man left for dead on the side of the road. The lawyer answers correctly, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus I believe knew that the expert would answer correctly, for whom else could be considered the neighbor. The fact the expert questioned who his neighbor is, demonstrates he was not satisfied with a definition that did not challenge. He certainly knew that the Torah continually tells of God's command to take care of the poor, oppressed, the immigrants, and marginalized. I do not think the expert was shocked at Jesus' telling of the parable; rather he was frightened of what it meant to receive eternal life. To go and live out such a love of God, yourself, and neighbor. "Go and do likewise."

God’s Realm

2 Kings 5:1-14

July 4, 1994, I was in the car with my half-brother and his two elementary age boys. It was a great day, and we had the windows rolled down as we drove along. There was then the sound of a firecracker (perhaps an M-80) for it was quite loud. My nephews yelled in delight, as I dove for cover under the dash. See I was being picked up from the airport from having been living in Belfast, Northern Ireland. If you are not aware, Northern Ireland is a "Police State," in that the military and police are essentially the same and people walled into distinct neighborhoods. I do not want to blame the army or police officers, for the "troubles," as it is a conflict between the two groups has been going on for a long time. The recent resurgence of conflict started in the sixties, directly fueled by the civil rights movements in the United States of America. Quickly the unrest turned to rioting and violence to an extreme that London sent the Army to keep the peace. The Irish welcomed such a force as the police force was 99% protestant and were not sympathetic. The women welcomed the soldiers with tea and biscuits as it meant the Ulstermen (Loyalists) would not be able to riot in their neighborhoods. Quickly this welcome died as the Irish felt even more oppressed with the army at the police's side. I do want to make it clear that the violence the paramilitary extremes both the IRA and Loyalists, is the worst and heinous cause of the continued troubles and thus the reaction of Britain to continue running Northern Ireland as a police state with minimal representation from its people of either camp. There has been much progress over the last ten years, such as disbanding the Royal Ulster Constabulary and replacing it with great reform with the Police Service of Northern Ireland in 2001. I bring up my experience not to debate the "troubles," but to share what it is like to live in a city that fits the definition of a "police state." I must say I generally felt safer in Belfast than in New York, I can tell I was effected greatly by the experience, as per my reaction to a celebratory firecracker.

I have many stories and observations from living in such a state. I called a real estate agent for a flat I was interested in renting, he told me he would show me at 3 PM. I went a little early to the address and started noticing other individuals and couples loitering in the vicinity. It was obvious to me that the agent was going to show us the rental all at once, and when he arrived shortly after 3, we all went up to look at the apartment. I quickly determined it was not the flat for me, so I exited soon after, to discover a constable outside. Well actually four, because they never traveled in groups smaller than four. They all had flak jackets on, and were holding automatic rifles. You may think I am just paranoid, but I know that every street has cameras, and not cameras like we have that record specific crimes like at ATM and stop lights, but cameras to watch. Thus I do not think it was a coincidence that an armored truck came to see why so many people were gathering on a street corner, especially a group not interacting just simply waiting. Of course we did nothing wrong, but it was obvious someone was concerned.

I did finally find a great flat with two roommates. It was not far from the Queen's University. It was a row house, with a small front yard with a low wall and gate. The doorway was across from the gate and was in a large archway. Well one night I did notice a few soldiers patrolling my street, but that seemed normal (that in itself puts one on edge). I looked down to open the gate and go through with my bag, when I heard someone in front of me ask in a strong tone, "Where are you going?" Looking up there was a soldier at my front door hidden in the archway. "To my flat," I responded. I was then let by after showing my identification and searching my bag.

Another day I was walking to the University, I observed a man make a U-turn. It was illegal, however, I would say it was a good place to make one, as it was not busy and one could see well in both directions. The driver was very careful and was looking carefully up and down the street, thus not observing the armored police vehicle at the next corner. The constables could see the U-turn and the lights went on to pull them over. The driver pulled over and one officer walked up to the driver's window with his citation book open. It was a normal traffic violation stop; except that it was on the wrong side of the street and that there were three other officers. One was in front of the car with his rifle raised at the driver, another was a few feet behind the officer making out the ticket with his rifle raised, and the last was on the other side of the car with his rifle at the ready. Now there are many times I wish our officers could have that type of force when they are pulling someone over, as we have some deranged and evil people out there. However, as Americans we uphold liberty. Our officers are not there to coerce and intimidate people to follow the law, rather they are there to protect and serve us free citizens. After a couple of months living in Belfast, I would find myself making sure my hands were visible if I was crossing the street toward a soldier or constable. What is scary was I did not think about it, I would do it naturally.

See in America we know exactly what it is like to be policed in such a manner. Well not with cameras, armored vehicles, or machine guns, but the mentality was the same in 1768 when British troops were sent to Boston to enforce the Townshend Acts. Eventually the tension came to bloodshed on March 5, 1770, when a mob started harassing Private Hugh White and eventually he was joined by 7 or 8 soldiers of the 29^th Regiment of Foot. Captain Thomas Preston finally went out as well to try to calm the 3-4 Hundred who were yelling and throwing snowballs. Eventually a local tavern keeper knocked down Private Hugh Montgomery with a club, and as he got to his feet yelled out "Damn you, fire!" And thus the Boston Massacre goes down in history, with three dead instantly, two more who would die from their wounds and eleven injured. The crown responded by pulling the troops out of the city, temporarily. The rest is history, we wanted liberty.

In today's scripture, Naaman is in need of healing. As per the Hebrew Scripture Naaman was given victory over Israel by the Lord and that is an important theme through the scripture, that God doesn't simply follow the national borders. Naaman was a commander of the army and quite successful, but needed healing from his leprosy. It was the slave girl that was kidnapped from Israel that knew how Naaman could achieve God's healing. As a commander, he went to his king and asked to go for such a healing via the prophet in Samaria. The King of Aram sent him with many gifts and a letter to the King of Israel that requested "…that you may cure him of his leprosy." The letter did not mention Elisha, and thus the King of Israel was insulted that this foreign leader would request such a healing from him. When Elisha heard of this letter and his king's response he sent word that Naaman should be sent to him. So Naaman went to Elisha's home, but Elisha did not come out to greet him, rather he sent a messenger out to tell him how God can heal. It is clear that Elisha was not the one that heals. Naaman apparently already had an idea how the healing would go and was very upset even enraged that Elisha would not come out and heal him. Naaman even responded with very "nationalistic" rhetoric, as he stated that the rivers of Damascus were better than any water of Israel. Elisha did not state it had to be Jordon, but it was the water that was right there, the river that was the border of the Promised Land. It was his own servants that reminded him he would have been willing to do something much harder to be healed. These humble servants and the slave girl knew things that the leaders did not know. These leaders and especially Naaman were blessed that the slave girl and the servants were bold enough to speak up. This is exactly the type of liberty God wants for all people. So they will know God has all the power across all boarders, and that we choose Jesus with our Liberty.

On July 4^th we celebrate our Liberty from the British and the Liberty we uphold in many other situations. We started with liberty for white land-owning men and we keep responding with Liberty when we see a challenge. When I ducked down in the car on July 4, 1994, many of you would not have understood that fear, until April 19 the following year, when the Alfred Murrah Federal Building was attacked. And of course the whole country felt this fear after the attacks of September 11, 2001. Yet today we do not live in a police state and there had been numerous attacks prior and continue to be attacks both foreign and domestic. We uphold liberty. We had instituted practical security measures, and some people are critical of some of the measures, but we are encouraged via our Liberty to be critical.

So many of you understand the fear I felt when I heard that firecracker, however I know a friend who knows these fear even greater. This friend was a refugee from Liberia, a country our nation established meaning Liberty. Our church in Connecticut brought him, his wife, and son to the USA from the refugee camps in that war torn country. This is the worst type of police state, in that the government is based solely on what army controls. We put them up in the church's apartment, helped them find jobs and training, and enjoyed becoming their friends and family. They knew that we celebrate Independence Day, however, we did not think to truly explain the festivities. Well after dusk we got a phone call from the apartment. Another friend was on the line trying to explain that they should go outside. However, they were yelling that they were under attack and were hiding under the bed. Finally, we convinced them to turn on the TV and they could see how we celebrate with fireworks. It was very sad that they were so scared. Yet when I talked with my friend from Liberia a week later, he was even able to laugh about it, for he understands even greater than most of us Americans what it is to celebrate Liberty. I had been knocked to my knees by a bomb in Belfast once, but I had an American Passport in my pocket (I was not harmed, just shook and scarred), but to hear what it means to be an American from a humble Liberian reminds me how God wants us all to be free across the World no matter what bodies of water we enjoy. God wants Liberty.

Freedom Seeds

Galatians 5:1, 13-25

I saw this arm reaching through the open window, reaching for whatever was in arms length. Luckily there was nothing close enough to grab. As the leader of this mission team I felt I had to confront this individual who was so brazenly trying to steal from us. I left the building with the intention to run off this street person, however by the time I got around the corner and saw the street person, I simply introduced myself. He was holding his shirt up to cradle six to eight mangos. It was obvious he had stumbled upon these mangos in the countryside to sell, barter, and for his own nourishment. He offered me one, but I had no need for another mango as we had a tree right outside where we were staying. I did accept the gift and felt good about not running him off. We were wary of his presence the entire week just as the local Jamaicans were of this man. We did not have any trouble.

I had brought 18 people from the age of 12 to seventy something to work on a metal roof of a church school house and run a vacation bible school. It was July in Jamaica and it was hot and humid, or as the locals termed it "hot, hot." We did great work for Jesus that week and even added tiling the new bathroom in the church to our work load, a skill that was learned 5 years earlier in Costa Rica when we tiled a 5,000 square foot sanctuary. We stayed up the road in the Manse (parsonage) with the pastor and his family. It was a large building that had bars on every window and door and thus resembled a jail at first glance. The accommodations for most of us (especially on the ground floor) were not much better than a jail, but within one evening of hospitality we felt at home. Except one woman shared with me she had a hard time the first couple of days with the accommodations. Honestly her room which she shared with one other woman was by far the worst room. No windows, no room for their luggage, and they had to walk through a shower. Now at first thought you would think it was about the physical comfort, but it seemed to be more than that, but her attitude changed all of the sudden she said when she realized that many of the children she was working with lived like this every day, and she would be going home to her cool, clean home in a week. This made her realize she needed to be yoked with these children and concentrate on the on the spiritual fruit, rather than the fleshly, being envy, jealousy, etc. over and above simply fleshly comfort.

Paul writes that our freedom we receive from Christ effectively makes us slaves to each other. Often we read of these fruits of the flesh and we think of sins that deal directly with the body, however, if you read the list carefully, "fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these," you will notice that these fruits are feelings and actions, associated with an individual. Thus not the type of freedom Jesus gives us. The women on the mission trip realized she needed to think as if she was baptized into the one spirit, in order to receive the fruit of the spirit.

I tell you that an apple comes only from an apple seed, a mango from a mango seed, and a pomegranate from a pomegranate seed. Thus the fruits of the spirit can only come from the seeds of the fruit of the spirit. When I turned that corner to run the street person off, something in me changed and I offered the simple hospitality of an introduction. It was a small seed of love and compassion, and I received back the full fruit of the Spirit.

 

Lump of Coal

Isaiah 6:6-8

1 Kings 19:1-15b

These two scriptures have been fundamental as per my call story. However, until recently I did not realize how they connected. The 1 Kings passage I am sure is familiar to you and I am always reminded to listen for God in the still small voice within me and/or in the silence and to not expect God in the dramatic and loud. This is certainly important for everyone to follow God, to respond to your call (be it ordained ministry, or wherever God is calling you). I did discover another important part of this pericope from 1 Kings that relates to call and became obvious from Isaiah's call story in the temple.

Isaiah is able to say "Here am I; send me!" after the seraph took the coal and removed his guilt and sin. This image always reminds me of my initial calling to ministry as a child. I grew up in the Roman Catholic tradition and was preparing for my first communion 30 plus years ago. Each week we went to church my mother, sister, and I would not go forward for communion. The closer it came to my first communion the more I realized that my mother was not receiving communion. I finally asked her why she did not, and she told me because she married my father outside the church due to him having been divorced and thus she was not allowed to have communion. I then started to worry because I was a result of this unrecognized marriage that I should not be allowed to the communion table as well. As Disciples we uphold an open table, but in the Roman Church it is Close or Closed Table. That is we Disciples believe that the sacrament/ordinance is educational in nature and thus someone who does not believe may actually discover Christ in the partaking, thus nobody is turned away from the table, while the Roman Catholic (& other denominations) believe the sacrament is of a nurturing nature. Therefore, only members and those deemed worthy are invited to the table. This is one of the criticisms of the early founders of the Restoration Movement that the Christian Church (DOC) came out of, which encouraged us to always have an open table. I then asked my mother and the nuns why I should be allowed to partake in communion if I am a product of an unrecognized marriage. The response was correct, which was that does not affect me; however they did not convince me. I still worried that I was squeaking by to receive communion. I do not remember the actual first communion service, but rather the rehearsal the day before, I recall being shown where the host was kept and seeing in the sacristy. But I vividly remember sitting in the pews when the Deacon started telling us how the actual event would take place. We were sitting there with our little stoles that we made in CCD over both shoulders, Deacons in the Roman Catholic Church only wear a stole over one shoulder. The Deacon then joked that he was jealous of all us as he was waiting to be allowed to wear his stole over both shoulders as a Priest. All the other children simply laughed, but I then thought I had to become a Priest myself, as I sat there with a stole over both my shoulders in God's house and I would be taking communion the next day just squeaking by as a child of an unrecognized marriage. I did not dare speak up, for I did desire to have communion, but I felt all this guilt upon me. Even though it was truly underserved guilt it was real to me.

I then carried my prayer book around and would recite prayers for every occasion. I was deeply concerned about following the rules. Then about six months later I was on the church grounds and remember feeling as if a light was upon me and I realized that God did not want me to become a priest because I thought I had to, rather God wanted me to say yes knowing my guilt and sin had been removed. It was as if a lump of coal had touched my lips and I knew the resurrection was for me as well, and then I was able to say "Here am I; Send me!" Of course I did not end up a priest but found my way to the Christian Church with the open table where I go often and reminded of that experience on the church lawn.

How does this relate to the 1 Kings pericope? Well not only did I hear God in the silence and knew my inherited guilt was wiped away, but the word coal used in Isaiah is only used in 1 Kings and nowhere else in the Bible. The Hebrew word for "hot coals" (resapim) was what the seraph touches Isaiah's lips as well as what the messenger used to bake cake for Elijah. These made me realize that not only does God want us to follow because we are saved from our sins and guilt, but we will also be sustained by God. I realize now that our open table not only is of the educational nature, but includes the nourishing nature as well. An open table is inclusive of both natures. God with his lump of coal in these scriptures wipes our guilt away and bakes us cake to sustain us in our journey. Communion does the same.

AMEN

 

Rectify

Galatians 2:15-21

Paul is writing to the Galatians about the infamous Antioch incident. This is the time when the issue of the gentile Christians needing to follow the Jewish laws and traditions come to a head for Paul. See Peter (Cephas) had been visiting for a while and had been sharing in table fellowship with every believer, those of Jewish decent like himself and gentile decent. However, when a contingency came from Jerusalem from James, Peter drew back from open table fellowship in fear of the reaction of the circumcision faction (as Paul named those that require the continuation of Jewish laws and customs). This was outrageous to Paul, and it seems he lost the argument this particular time for how he writes about it with passion, and Luke the writer of Acts writes about the incident matter-of-factly. Yet we know that Paul ultimately wins this theological argument, for we do not keep kosher. (I do love Hebrew International Hot Dogs, but it is not required to be a Christian).

So Paul then writes this theological statement about the justification through faith in Jesus Christ. Now today we hear the word justify and we cannot help but think of validation and/or vindication of someone's actions, however Paul is making it clear that our salvation does not come from our own actions, such as following the works of the law. One may simply look at this problem as being passé for the vast majority of Christians are not of Jewish decent and we do not require the works of the law. As written above, Paul did win this argument, yet today we slip back into some of the same problems of the early church. Church should not be a place where the rules and traditions dictate salvation, for salvation is God's acting alone.

Paul believes it is the faith in Christ which then justifies an individual, which in our English sounds as if our faith validates our salvation. This is not what Paul really meant when he penned dikaioo), for when we translate it to justify we imply vindication and validation, which is exactly what Paul is critical of the works of the law. However, the word can be translated also as rectify, which demonstrates we are put in the right only by responding to God's Grace and Love in our faith of the Christ. For when you read that one is rectified by faith in Christ, there is no way to assume that what you did makes you deserve salvation, rather, your faith has allowed God to put you right, "saved you." It is not what we do but we must respond to God's Grace with faith so we may be rectified.

From the Greek word dikaioo), the translation to English via the Latin Root becomes "Justify" and via the Anglo-Saxon root "Rectify." While I believe the latter is better suited as I stated above, having grown up in print shops I cannot help but think of how printers use the word justification. You may remember when you used a typewriter or anytime you use a word processing program, that you must justify the margins. This use more closely resembles the theological use Paul desires, for it also does not imply validation or vindication. Each page needs to be justified as per its use and the creator of the document is the one that determines the margins. We are blank pages to God since Jesus wiped our sins off the page with His time on the tree and the empty tomb. As blank pages we need direction and guidance from God, but not in the form of rules and regulations, but margins visible by the Creator God and known on each individual.

We are rectified through our faith in Jesus Christ, and we are justified as a page of living scripture to be a witness.

One Gospel

Galatians 1:11-24

 

Paul is writing to the Galatians about his authority to preach the Gospel. One group of scholars believe Paul is responding to the criticism that he was not one of the twelve who knew the earthly Jesus, thus Paul writes that his revelation came through the resurrected Lord Jesus and not by any human. We do not have any source of any criticism specifically on his authority, but one can see how it is reasonable to believe Paul has to make it clear his authority came not from any man. However, some other scholars will argue that Paul is making it clear that he was not too connected with the Jerusalem church to these Galatians. See the Galatians were mostly pagan converts and thus were not interested in being required to participate in the Jewish laws, such as keeping kosher and being circumcised. There is certainly evidence that the Jerusalem church did originally require Jewish law and/or a two tier church (separate but equal, which doesn't work, which Paul would argue). Thus Paul makes it clear he did not even go to Jerusalem for three years and when he did he only met Peter, the leader, and James, Jesus' brother, the best two names to mention. A third group of scholars actually don't believe this was a response to a specific criticism; rather Paul was making a specific point to the Galatians. I believe he understood that there was both camps in Galatia and some even asked both questions, thus making this a great statement of authority, and especially for this specific church.

What is scary about this scripture is how it has been used by individuals to claim authority via a revelation of the Risen Lord Jesus. This scripture alone may even support that idea, however, this is specific letter and thus important to look at all of Paul's letters and the Gospels as well. For instance, Paul makes it clear that he is sharing the message he had received from others in 1 Corinthians 15. Paul also mentions the importance of the interdependency of the church whenever he wrote of the Body of Christ (the Church). Paul clearly states that one may speak in tongues but there needs also one with the gift of interpretation. Paul knows there is a history and also one Spirit we are all baptized into.

Thus it reminds me of the game "Telephone" (or "Gossip" as it was corrected from the choir) in which you get a circle of children and tell something to the first child and then they pass it on to the next and so forth until it comes all the way back to the first. Often what is repeated is nothing like what was originally stated. The way we evangelize we may depend only on our own experience or only on what the church tells us (our revelation of the Christ or our Tradition). If we truly want to be effective of this game "telephone" with telling the Gospel, evangelizing, we must check with where the message is coming in our tradition AND check with our own revelation of the Risen Christ, to assure we pass on the One Gospel. It may not always sound exactly the same, however, this will assure the One Gospel of Jesus the Christ.

New Math

Matthew 28:16-20

2 Corinthians 13:11-13

 

I love math. I am not a mathematician, but I was the only one in the Match Club at my college who was not a major in math. Part of this love of math came from a geometry class that proved to me the importance of faith. I remember sitting in the back of the room in the first or second class of the semester and the good teacher went to the blackboard and put one dot on the board and said, "that's one point," he then put a second on the board, "two points make a line," he then put a third point, "three points not on the same line make a plane," then pointing out in the classroom, "and a fourth point not on the plan, makes space," he then paused and said, "that is all based on our faith that one point exists, all math is based on the faith of one point existing." Going to the smallest physical points one can prove that the point is a wave or something else, but math needs for one point to exist. And even if you do not understand what I am writing about, I hope you can understand for me I understood that my life was given meaning and order because I have faith in the One God.

The scriptures are two of the closest ways our scriptures acknowledge the Trinity. However, much of Paul's letters make it clear that he still believed in one God. Even here Paul writes as the Lord Jesus and the communion of the Holy Spirit thus not directly calling those two actually God. It is where he comes the closest, but generally he writes about us getting closer to God through Jesus, and working in communion with the same Spirit. Paul is just as all the early followers believed in the One True God. However, Jesus and the Holy Spirit is difficult for the church to explain to those that did believe in the One God or to those who believed in many gods, that this 3 was also one.

Remember New Math? If you don't it was a pedagogy that was pushed on American students and Western European students in the 1960's with the purpose of catching us up with the Soviets who where in space already. The problem was that this method of teaching emphasized theory, some of which the teachers did not know well (if at all) and the parents were frustrated as they could barely help with their children's homework. Remnants of this pedagogy did remain through our education system, but in a decade or so, making sure the majority of students understood basic arithmetic returned to the classroom.

Just as the tradition of the Triune God, Three in One, the Trinity, can be debated and defined by theologians, it is not important to be hung up on the New Math. Rather the simple arithmetic of this Church Tradition. The Trinity represents that God's self is in RELATIONSHIP with God's self. Thus we are also to be in relationship. If it was just Jesus and the Creator God the model would be God in relationship with humanity. Having the three reminds us that we are in relationship with God, each other, and God is in relationship with us individually and with all of humanity. It is still mystery that the one true God can be of three personas, but that brings me back to having faith in the one true God. To have faith is to be fine with the mystery and thus understand that having faith in the One God will thus make the whole world work together in relationship.