John and the Trinity

Monday, December 7, 2009 -- Week of 2 Advent, Year Two
Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, 397

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 937)
Psalms 25 (morning) 9, 15 (evening)
Amos 7:1-9
Revelation 1:1-8
Matthew 22:23-33

Although the doctrine of the Trinity is a product of several centuries of Christian experience and debate, we see an implicit Trinitarian description in the opening words of the Revelation to John.

The first three verses speak in the voice of a revelation from and about Jesus. It is a revelation that is to be read aloud, it says.

But then John shifts into a form that would have been easily recognized as the opening to a letter: "Grace to you and peace..." The source of grace and peace also has a Trinitarian character: "...from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth." God, Spirit, Jesus. Some have described this passage as a doxlogy.

The first description of God is a somewhat awkward expression. Read literally, John speaks of "the being, the was, and the coming." The latter is in the present tense, so there is no expression in the future tense. John speaks also of the "seven spirits." Seven is a symbolic word meaning whole, perfect, complete. And John offers three symbolic descriptions of Jesus which honor his death, his resurrection, and his present reign. Again, there is no future depiction.

The revelation and the opening epistolatory greeting are all described in the present. This is what is happening now. This is the present circumstance, John says. A voice speaks: It is the announcement of Jesus' coming now, in the present tense, framed by his past suffering and future revelation. "Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail."

The final voice of this opening address is the voice of God, who echoes the name given to Moses in the story of the Exodus. "'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." The actual Greek tense describes God in the present tense, as coming. John seems careful to avoid the future tense in these acclamations of the divine.

Within this symbolic Trinitarian language of God's presence and activity is a two-fold emphasis that is a major theme throughout John's vision. Politics and religion are deeply related and significant focuses of John's revelation. John praises Jesus, "who made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father." To Jesus is to be given "glory and dominion forever and ever," declares John. Jesus is to be glorified by the prayers and worship of God's people. Jesus is also to be glorified in the political events that will produce justice on behalf of the earth and the people. These are the consequences of Jesus' work and his being, for Jesus "loves us and freed us."

John invites us to be awake for the presence and activity of the Trinity in our lives, in the politics and the religion of our day. God is with us -- "the being, the was, and the coming." The Spirit of wholeness and completeness is active here and now. And Jesus who loves us and freed us is coming with the clouds to work in our prayers and politics to bring about liberation and justice.

As I finish this reflection, it strikes me that John is speaking through a different genre the same message that Amos the prophet speaks. God is with us, living and active, always working to resist oppression, to purify us from our greed and pride, and to establish justice in the nation, especially on behalf of the poor and weak. This is a calling from generations of seers in our tradition.

Lowell

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About Morning Reflections
Morning Reflections is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html


The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Visit our web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

Our Rule of Life

We aspire to...
worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.

Lowell Grisham, Rector

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, Arkansas