We Believe In One God
"If you had to try and describe God, where would you start? It's a rather daunting task! The Nicene Creed will go on to describe many aspects of God. But it begins by affirming that God is one."
For Christians, the Nicene Creed is an enduring statement of faith, a declaration of hope and love. From 16th June, for four weeks, we will focus each day on a different phrase of the Nicene Creed. We invite you to meditate on the central tenets of Christian belief - to see that the Creed is not merely a set of words to be recited, but a lived reality that shapes our identity, our worship, and our witness in the world.
For Christians, the Nicene Creed is an enduring statement of faith, a declaration of hope and love. From 16th June, for four weeks, we will focus each day on a different phrase of the Nicene Creed. We invite you to meditate on the central tenets of Christian belief - to see that the Creed is not merely a set of words to be recited, but a lived reality that shapes our identity, our worship, and our witness in the world.
Day 27: Amen
2 Corinthians 1.20 (NRSVA)
For in Jesus Christ every one of God's promises is a Yes'. For this reason, it is through him that we say 'Amen', to the glory of the Father.
Even in our digital world where we pick up a physical pen less and less, a person's signature continues to hold value. To finish a letter, confirm a decision or prove our identity, we look for a signature. It's a way of saying yes, I stand by this.
'Amen' plays a similar role in faith and in prayer. But this time it's not just about me, it's about us, our collective 'yes'. For believing is part of belonging. When we come to the 'Amen' at the end of the Creed, it's not so much an individual 'signing up' to a set of beliefs or implying that we have no questions. Rather, it is an act of trust in God and an affirmation that the faith we have inherited is life-giving. Christ's incarnation, birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension, the gift of the Spirit, and the grace of baptism in the Church all speak of God's ringing and definitive 'yes' to us and to our world.
In our everyday lives, we are also called to use our voice, our 'yes', to stand up for what is right and on behalf of those whose voices are not heard. How willing are you to speak out, to add your voice to the causes that really matter?
For in Jesus Christ every one of God's promises is a Yes'. For this reason, it is through him that we say 'Amen', to the glory of the Father.
Even in our digital world where we pick up a physical pen less and less, a person's signature continues to hold value. To finish a letter, confirm a decision or prove our identity, we look for a signature. It's a way of saying yes, I stand by this.
'Amen' plays a similar role in faith and in prayer. But this time it's not just about me, it's about us, our collective 'yes'. For believing is part of belonging. When we come to the 'Amen' at the end of the Creed, it's not so much an individual 'signing up' to a set of beliefs or implying that we have no questions. Rather, it is an act of trust in God and an affirmation that the faith we have inherited is life-giving. Christ's incarnation, birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension, the gift of the Spirit, and the grace of baptism in the Church all speak of God's ringing and definitive 'yes' to us and to our world.
In our everyday lives, we are also called to use our voice, our 'yes', to stand up for what is right and on behalf of those whose voices are not heard. How willing are you to speak out, to add your voice to the causes that really matter?
Day 26: We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come
John 11.23-25 (NRSVA)
Jesus said to Martha, 'Your brother will rise again. She said to him, ' know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day. Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live.'
Hope in resurrection, to new life in the world that will come, can be hard for us to comprehend. It's easier to pay lip-service to it or even dismiss it altogether. The world that is to come is the fulfilment of the kingdom of God, proclaimed by Jesus, where God's will is done on earth as in heaven. Our Christian hope in resurrection to this kingdom has to be lived in the here-and-now.
We live that hope when we love our sisters and brothers in Christ, and indeed all created things in this world. We live that hope when we care for the health of our own self, body and mind. The resurrection hope calls us to deal with all things, whether living things or other resources, as part of God's creation, valued by God.
Our hope should not make us passive, accepting the injustice that we see around us here and now.
Instead our knowledge of the kingdom that is to come, where sorrow and suffering are no more, inspires us to hope and pray, to live and work for God's kingdom, which the life, death and resurrection of Christ has inaugurated.
Jesus said to Martha, 'Your brother will rise again. She said to him, ' know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day. Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live.'
Hope in resurrection, to new life in the world that will come, can be hard for us to comprehend. It's easier to pay lip-service to it or even dismiss it altogether. The world that is to come is the fulfilment of the kingdom of God, proclaimed by Jesus, where God's will is done on earth as in heaven. Our Christian hope in resurrection to this kingdom has to be lived in the here-and-now.
We live that hope when we love our sisters and brothers in Christ, and indeed all created things in this world. We live that hope when we care for the health of our own self, body and mind. The resurrection hope calls us to deal with all things, whether living things or other resources, as part of God's creation, valued by God.
Our hope should not make us passive, accepting the injustice that we see around us here and now.
Instead our knowledge of the kingdom that is to come, where sorrow and suffering are no more, inspires us to hope and pray, to live and work for God's kingdom, which the life, death and resurrection of Christ has inaugurated.
Day 25: We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins
Titus 3.4-7 (NRSVA)
But when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Who do you think you are?' The question can make us feel uneasy. It can sound like a telling off, 'stop being so bossy, so controlling'. But it's a question worth asking ourselves - not judgementally but in a spirit of curiosity. Who do we think we are? Where does our identity lie? One of the answers is here in our reading and in the Creed: we are those who have been forgiven through God's love.
Everyone has a past, and bits of that can be, at best, a little embarrassing. No one is perfect, and this has led some to say that human beings are 'human be-comings'. Day by day, hour by hour, we need to get back on track, move forward, and by God's grace, become what it is that God is calling us to be.
For Christians this can happen when we return, again and again, to the water of baptism and remember what our baptism means. That is why the font was traditionally placed near the entrance of the church building. We fail, we all make mistakes, but new every morning we can feel the refreshing dew of God's mercy and forgiveness.
But when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Who do you think you are?' The question can make us feel uneasy. It can sound like a telling off, 'stop being so bossy, so controlling'. But it's a question worth asking ourselves - not judgementally but in a spirit of curiosity. Who do we think we are? Where does our identity lie? One of the answers is here in our reading and in the Creed: we are those who have been forgiven through God's love.
Everyone has a past, and bits of that can be, at best, a little embarrassing. No one is perfect, and this has led some to say that human beings are 'human be-comings'. Day by day, hour by hour, we need to get back on track, move forward, and by God's grace, become what it is that God is calling us to be.
For Christians this can happen when we return, again and again, to the water of baptism and remember what our baptism means. That is why the font was traditionally placed near the entrance of the church building. We fail, we all make mistakes, but new every morning we can feel the refreshing dew of God's mercy and forgiveness.
Day 24: We believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church
1 Corinthians 12.12-13 (NRSVA)
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - Jews or Greeks, slaves or free - and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
A word often used to describe our culture today is 'fragmented'. With an abundance of music to listen to or series to stream, there are fewer shared cultural experiences. More significantly, our communities sometimes seem increasingly polarised, politically and culturally. And division is present within the Church, too. By contrast, the Creed affirms that the Church is 'one, holy, catholic and apostolic'. Rather than fragmentation, we are encouraged to pursue togetherness. Paul, writing to the Corinthians, reminds them that they were baptized into one body. We too pray in our division for the unity of the Church. The Church is given the task of continuing Christ's work in the world, and it is dedicated or made holy for this great purpose.
Catholic is a Greek word meaning 'universal' - the Church is for all. We are entrusted with the faith passed on to us from the apostles, those disciples of Jesus that he sent out to be the first missionaries. We stand, then, in a long lineage. One that began when Jesus gathered his first disciples and continues right up to today. We stand with all those who, through two thousand years, have heard Jesus' words and tried to understand them and apply them in their own time. Let us find ways to reflect our unity with them.
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - Jews or Greeks, slaves or free - and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
A word often used to describe our culture today is 'fragmented'. With an abundance of music to listen to or series to stream, there are fewer shared cultural experiences. More significantly, our communities sometimes seem increasingly polarised, politically and culturally. And division is present within the Church, too. By contrast, the Creed affirms that the Church is 'one, holy, catholic and apostolic'. Rather than fragmentation, we are encouraged to pursue togetherness. Paul, writing to the Corinthians, reminds them that they were baptized into one body. We too pray in our division for the unity of the Church. The Church is given the task of continuing Christ's work in the world, and it is dedicated or made holy for this great purpose.
Catholic is a Greek word meaning 'universal' - the Church is for all. We are entrusted with the faith passed on to us from the apostles, those disciples of Jesus that he sent out to be the first missionaries. We stand, then, in a long lineage. One that began when Jesus gathered his first disciples and continues right up to today. We stand with all those who, through two thousand years, have heard Jesus' words and tried to understand them and apply them in their own time. Let us find ways to reflect our unity with them.
Day 23: Who has spoken through the prophets
Acts 4.24-26 (NRSVA)
[The apostles] raised their voices together to God and said, 'Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and everything in them, it is you who said by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant: "Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers have gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.'"
Have you ever read a book and wondered what the author meant by a certain phrase or paragraph? The best thing of all would be for the writer to guide us through their work and explain it to us. To read the Bible is to start on the work of a lifetime of prayer, seeking the Holy Spirit's help in understanding the words that God has given us. It can be challenging - sometimes because the words are hard to interpret, and sometimes because they are easily understood, yet tell us something we don't want to hear.
The apostles were confident that the Holy Spirit was speaking to them in Scripture, in the words of what we now call the Old Testament, but which to them was simply the Bible. And to them the Spirit spoke in Scripture, not just of the Father, but of the Son and the Spirit also.
In these verses from Acts, the apostles quote one of the Psalms. Traditionally the Psalms have been the bedrock of Christian prayer. As we pray the Psalms, we may not always be deeply moved or excited by them. Sometimes it can be a bit of a slog. But we persist, trusting that the slow dripping of the words, day by day, onto our stony hearts, is being used by the Spirit to reshape and renew us.
[The apostles] raised their voices together to God and said, 'Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and everything in them, it is you who said by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant: "Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers have gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.'"
Have you ever read a book and wondered what the author meant by a certain phrase or paragraph? The best thing of all would be for the writer to guide us through their work and explain it to us. To read the Bible is to start on the work of a lifetime of prayer, seeking the Holy Spirit's help in understanding the words that God has given us. It can be challenging - sometimes because the words are hard to interpret, and sometimes because they are easily understood, yet tell us something we don't want to hear.
The apostles were confident that the Holy Spirit was speaking to them in Scripture, in the words of what we now call the Old Testament, but which to them was simply the Bible. And to them the Spirit spoke in Scripture, not just of the Father, but of the Son and the Spirit also.
In these verses from Acts, the apostles quote one of the Psalms. Traditionally the Psalms have been the bedrock of Christian prayer. As we pray the Psalms, we may not always be deeply moved or excited by them. Sometimes it can be a bit of a slog. But we persist, trusting that the slow dripping of the words, day by day, onto our stony hearts, is being used by the Spirit to reshape and renew us.
Day 22: Who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified
Matthew 28.18-20 (NRSVA)
And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age!'
One of the foundations of the Christian faith is the belief that God exists in Trinity - that God is one-in-three, and three-in-one. This can be a difficult thing to comprehend. But it helps us to understand better what God is like - that love and relationship are central to God's character.
As we say these words in the Nicene Creed, we affirm something of the relationship of the persons of the Trinity with one another. Each member of the Trinity is distinctive, generously giving and receiving from and with each other, joyfully bonded in a divine dance of love.
This divine model of love and relationship is echoed in our human lives - as people made in the image of God, we emulate this love, called to model it in the way we live, and in our communities.
We pray to God the Father, in the name of the Son, through the power of the Holy Spirit. In prayer and in worship, we are drawn into the heart of the Trinity of love and are then sent out into the world to love, to witness, and to glorify God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age!'
One of the foundations of the Christian faith is the belief that God exists in Trinity - that God is one-in-three, and three-in-one. This can be a difficult thing to comprehend. But it helps us to understand better what God is like - that love and relationship are central to God's character.
As we say these words in the Nicene Creed, we affirm something of the relationship of the persons of the Trinity with one another. Each member of the Trinity is distinctive, generously giving and receiving from and with each other, joyfully bonded in a divine dance of love.
This divine model of love and relationship is echoed in our human lives - as people made in the image of God, we emulate this love, called to model it in the way we live, and in our communities.
We pray to God the Father, in the name of the Son, through the power of the Holy Spirit. In prayer and in worship, we are drawn into the heart of the Trinity of love and are then sent out into the world to love, to witness, and to glorify God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Day 21 is Sunday, and the whole Nicene Creed is said in church today
Day 20: Who proceeds from the Father and the Son
Romans 8.9-17 (NRSVA)
But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his
Spirit that dwells in you.
So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh - for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, 'Abba! Father!' it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ - if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
As we go down a street, passing house after house, we often catch glimpses of the people inside. It's one thing to see them fleetingly through a window. It would be quite another if they were to invite us in, offer us a meal or even encourage us to be part of the family.
Part of the work of the Holy Spirit is to enable us to be part of God's family. We don't simply do our best to try and follow Jesus by looking at his example. Through the Holy Spirit, God lives within us, working to make us more like Jesus, enabling us to relate intimately to God as our Father. The Creed articulates this awe-inspiring reality. But the line 'who proceeds from the Father and the Son' has also been one of the most enduring stumbling-blocks in Christian disunity. The phrase 'and the Son' was a later addition to the original text by the western church but was rejected by eastern orthodox churches and remains a point of disagreement.
Our tensions and disagreements are a reminder of our daily need for the Holy Spirit. When we invite God to make his home within us by his Spirit, the Bible tells us that the results include love, peace, patience and kindness. God works within us to enable us to relate better to one another.
But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his
Spirit that dwells in you.
So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh - for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, 'Abba! Father!' it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ - if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
As we go down a street, passing house after house, we often catch glimpses of the people inside. It's one thing to see them fleetingly through a window. It would be quite another if they were to invite us in, offer us a meal or even encourage us to be part of the family.
Part of the work of the Holy Spirit is to enable us to be part of God's family. We don't simply do our best to try and follow Jesus by looking at his example. Through the Holy Spirit, God lives within us, working to make us more like Jesus, enabling us to relate intimately to God as our Father. The Creed articulates this awe-inspiring reality. But the line 'who proceeds from the Father and the Son' has also been one of the most enduring stumbling-blocks in Christian disunity. The phrase 'and the Son' was a later addition to the original text by the western church but was rejected by eastern orthodox churches and remains a point of disagreement.
Our tensions and disagreements are a reminder of our daily need for the Holy Spirit. When we invite God to make his home within us by his Spirit, the Bible tells us that the results include love, peace, patience and kindness. God works within us to enable us to relate better to one another.
Day 19: We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life.
John 16.13-14 (NRSVA)
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Most of us have received a gift that we know we will treasure. We treasure it because of what it means to us. In the Christian faith, we believe that God gives us the Holy Spirit - a gift which we are called to treasure and allow to grow within us. The Bible uses many images to illustrate the character of the Holy Spirit - wind, breath, fire, water, a dove. The common thread in all these is energy and movement, as we understand the Spirit's role as the source of life.
This concept of movement is key. The Spirit is God's presence within us, a gift which is not static, but active. At the end of a church service, we may hear the words: 'send us out in the power of the Spirit to live... The Spirit guides and teaches, working in us and through us, giving us life and guiding us into all truth. We are each given gifts of the Spirit - godly characteristics which form us in faith and enable us to participate in the mission of God in the world. We ourselves take part in the work of transformation, as we treasure the gift of the Spirit that leads us into everyday faith.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Most of us have received a gift that we know we will treasure. We treasure it because of what it means to us. In the Christian faith, we believe that God gives us the Holy Spirit - a gift which we are called to treasure and allow to grow within us. The Bible uses many images to illustrate the character of the Holy Spirit - wind, breath, fire, water, a dove. The common thread in all these is energy and movement, as we understand the Spirit's role as the source of life.
This concept of movement is key. The Spirit is God's presence within us, a gift which is not static, but active. At the end of a church service, we may hear the words: 'send us out in the power of the Spirit to live... The Spirit guides and teaches, working in us and through us, giving us life and guiding us into all truth. We are each given gifts of the Spirit - godly characteristics which form us in faith and enable us to participate in the mission of God in the world. We ourselves take part in the work of transformation, as we treasure the gift of the Spirit that leads us into everyday faith.
Day18: And His kingdom will have no end
Luke 1.31-33 (NRSVA)
The angel said to Mary, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.'
When was the last time something felt 'endless'? We usually use the word to describe a task we're not enjoying or a painful situation that we wish would stop. But in the Creed and in our reading today, it's just the opposite. We are told that God's kingdom will have no end.
In the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples, we pray 'thy kingdom come'. The kingdom of God is that place where God reigns, where God's will is done - here on earth just as it already is in heaven. So we see God's kingdom breaking in, pushing aside the powers of this world, whenever someone helps another person in need. We see God's kingdom when the hungry are fed and the homeless housed, when the sick and the vulnerable are cared for, and the oppressed are set free. God's kingdom can be seen when we say 'sorry' and when we share forgiveness and reconciliation. It might seem so small, but each little thing that we can
contribute makes the kingdom more real, until Christ comes in glory to reign over his kingdom.
At the very moment Mary learned that she was to bring Jesus into the world, she was reminded that of God's kingdom there will be no end.
The angel said to Mary, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.'
When was the last time something felt 'endless'? We usually use the word to describe a task we're not enjoying or a painful situation that we wish would stop. But in the Creed and in our reading today, it's just the opposite. We are told that God's kingdom will have no end.
In the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples, we pray 'thy kingdom come'. The kingdom of God is that place where God reigns, where God's will is done - here on earth just as it already is in heaven. So we see God's kingdom breaking in, pushing aside the powers of this world, whenever someone helps another person in need. We see God's kingdom when the hungry are fed and the homeless housed, when the sick and the vulnerable are cared for, and the oppressed are set free. God's kingdom can be seen when we say 'sorry' and when we share forgiveness and reconciliation. It might seem so small, but each little thing that we can
contribute makes the kingdom more real, until Christ comes in glory to reign over his kingdom.
At the very moment Mary learned that she was to bring Jesus into the world, she was reminded that of God's kingdom there will be no end.
Day 17: He will come again in glory, to just the living and the dead
Matthew 24.29-31 (NRSVA)
'Immediately after the suffering of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken.
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see "the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven" with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.'
The idea of judgement' isn't particularly popular. We are, rightly, encouraged not to judge others.
Prophecies of Christ's return as judge can both fascinate and repel us. They are sobering, if not frightening, and can make us uneasy. They challenge our ideas about how the world will unfold. We might also fear them because it can be dangerous to become too fascinated with the end of all things.
What we can't do is set them aside: the theme of judgement is an important part of the Biblical witness.
The longing for judgement we find in Scripture is a longing for justice, for liberation, and for renewal. The imagery is frightening, but ultimately hopeful. The sign Jesus points us to is the sign of 'the Son of Man'.
The one who will judge the earth is the same God who we encounter as the baby in the manger, the healer and teacher, the redeemer on the cross and the risen one who overcomes the power of death. We can look to him in love and trust.
'Immediately after the suffering of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken.
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see "the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven" with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.'
The idea of judgement' isn't particularly popular. We are, rightly, encouraged not to judge others.
Prophecies of Christ's return as judge can both fascinate and repel us. They are sobering, if not frightening, and can make us uneasy. They challenge our ideas about how the world will unfold. We might also fear them because it can be dangerous to become too fascinated with the end of all things.
What we can't do is set them aside: the theme of judgement is an important part of the Biblical witness.
The longing for judgement we find in Scripture is a longing for justice, for liberation, and for renewal. The imagery is frightening, but ultimately hopeful. The sign Jesus points us to is the sign of 'the Son of Man'.
The one who will judge the earth is the same God who we encounter as the baby in the manger, the healer and teacher, the redeemer on the cross and the risen one who overcomes the power of death. We can look to him in love and trust.
Day 16: He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father
Philippians 2.8-11 (NRSVA)
Christ humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Scars - physical and emotional - are all part of the experience of growing up, of being human. For many people, scars are part of who they are and of what they have survived and grown through. Whenever Jesus is portrayed in images or statues after his Ascension or as Christ the King reigning in glory, the flesh wounds of the nails that were hammered into Jesus' feet and hands are still there.
Jesus' ascension is not a cosmic reset; it isn't that Jesus somehow stops being human or that all that he has suffered is erased. Quite the opposite. The work of salvation: being born as one of us, teaching, healing, signs and wonders, suffering and an unjust death - Jesus' work is now complete. The risen and ascended Christ Jesus now reigns in glory but he brings the scars of his human life and suffering, transformed and transfigured. So he offers hope to those whose lives are intertwined with his. Our own experiences are seen and known by God and can be transformed and transfigured too.
Christ humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Scars - physical and emotional - are all part of the experience of growing up, of being human. For many people, scars are part of who they are and of what they have survived and grown through. Whenever Jesus is portrayed in images or statues after his Ascension or as Christ the King reigning in glory, the flesh wounds of the nails that were hammered into Jesus' feet and hands are still there.
Jesus' ascension is not a cosmic reset; it isn't that Jesus somehow stops being human or that all that he has suffered is erased. Quite the opposite. The work of salvation: being born as one of us, teaching, healing, signs and wonders, suffering and an unjust death - Jesus' work is now complete. The risen and ascended Christ Jesus now reigns in glory but he brings the scars of his human life and suffering, transformed and transfigured. So he offers hope to those whose lives are intertwined with his. Our own experiences are seen and known by God and can be transformed and transfigured too.
Day 15: On the third day He rose again in accordance with the scriptures
Mark 16.6-7 (NRSVA)
But the angel said to them, 'Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.
He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.'
It's easy to imagine the fear which the women experienced as they approached the empty tomb. In the grief and preparation to anoint Jesus' body, discovering that his body was no longer there must have been extremely alarming and disorientating. In this encounter, amid the distress, these three women became the first people to witness the resurrection. Jesus is risen from the dead, under the cover of darkness - and in doing so doesn't simply perform a one-off miracle, but one which fulfils all the Bible's promises about our salvation. Through Jesus' resurrection, there is a dawn of a new day and of a new hope of eternal life. We rejoice as Easter people - people who have encountered the hope which resurrection brings.
Just as the first disciples encountered the risen Christ, so do we. Perhaps not in flesh, but in prayer, in the breaking of bread, through lifting our voices in song, in the beauty of creation, and in the face of one another. We mirror his descending into the tomb and rising to new life in our baptism. We shift our focus from ourselves to God. We carry the hope of resurrection as a living story, as we witness to our faith on earth.
But the angel said to them, 'Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.
He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.'
It's easy to imagine the fear which the women experienced as they approached the empty tomb. In the grief and preparation to anoint Jesus' body, discovering that his body was no longer there must have been extremely alarming and disorientating. In this encounter, amid the distress, these three women became the first people to witness the resurrection. Jesus is risen from the dead, under the cover of darkness - and in doing so doesn't simply perform a one-off miracle, but one which fulfils all the Bible's promises about our salvation. Through Jesus' resurrection, there is a dawn of a new day and of a new hope of eternal life. We rejoice as Easter people - people who have encountered the hope which resurrection brings.
Just as the first disciples encountered the risen Christ, so do we. Perhaps not in flesh, but in prayer, in the breaking of bread, through lifting our voices in song, in the beauty of creation, and in the face of one another. We mirror his descending into the tomb and rising to new life in our baptism. We shift our focus from ourselves to God. We carry the hope of resurrection as a living story, as we witness to our faith on earth.
Day 14 is Sunday, and the whole Nicene Creed is said in church today
Day 13: He suffered death and was buried
Mark 15.33-39, 42-46 (NRSVA)
When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?' which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, 'Listen, he is calling for Elijah.' And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down. Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, 'Truly this man was God's Son!'
When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for some time.
When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.
All around us we see suffering and death. Every day the news brings home to us the reality of war and famine, disease and brutality, or just sheer accident. It's a reality that can sometimes be overwhelming. It's a reality that the loss of loved ones brings so close to us, a loss that we sometimes carry with us for long years. The pain of grief is the price of love, and the fear of death is with each of us.
But in these six words from the Creed, we recall that Jesus, like all who are born, also died. Even God, God the Son, did not shrink from suffering and death - and his death was particularly brutal and horrific. In death, Jesus overcomes the powers of this world, living a life of love and service and forgiveness to the end.
And then Jesus' friends come and lay him to rest, the last thing that they can do for him. It seems to be the end of Jesus' story.
When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?' which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, 'Listen, he is calling for Elijah.' And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down. Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, 'Truly this man was God's Son!'
When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for some time.
When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.
All around us we see suffering and death. Every day the news brings home to us the reality of war and famine, disease and brutality, or just sheer accident. It's a reality that can sometimes be overwhelming. It's a reality that the loss of loved ones brings so close to us, a loss that we sometimes carry with us for long years. The pain of grief is the price of love, and the fear of death is with each of us.
But in these six words from the Creed, we recall that Jesus, like all who are born, also died. Even God, God the Son, did not shrink from suffering and death - and his death was particularly brutal and horrific. In death, Jesus overcomes the powers of this world, living a life of love and service and forgiveness to the end.
And then Jesus' friends come and lay him to rest, the last thing that they can do for him. It seems to be the end of Jesus' story.
Day 12: For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate
Mark 15.1-15 (NRSVA)
As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate asked him, 'Are you the King of the Jews?' He answered him, You say so! Then the chief priests accused him of many things. Pilate asked him again, 'Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.' But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.
Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked. Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. Then he answered them, 'Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?' For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate spoke to them again, Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?' They shouted back, 'Crucify him!' Pilate asked them, Why, what evil has he done?' But they shouted all the more, 'Crucify him!'
The Nicene Creed places Jesus' death firmly within human history. This is the text that has ironically made Pontius Pilate's name immortal. Pilate was just one of many throughout history who decide that to 'maintain order' and keep hold of power is worth the cost in human life. Many atrocities have been committed, but so have infinitely more, smaller injustices by those just doing their job or following orders.
Crucifixion was common in the Roman Empire. We fail to do justice to the significance of Jesus' crucifixion if we think of it in isolation from the many thousands crucified before, with and since Jesus, and the many who have justice denied them at the hands of the powerful. We are faced with the question: where do we stand - with Pontius Pilate or Jesus of Nazareth?
Yet tucked into the Nicene Creed is a phrase we could so easily miss - for our sake. It reminds us that Jesus' crucifixion was also unique. God's own Son, who had done nothing wrong, chose the cross in our place, so that we could be reconciled to God. In the shocking violence and brutality of Jesus' crucifixion,
God's love is even more visible.
As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate asked him, 'Are you the King of the Jews?' He answered him, You say so! Then the chief priests accused him of many things. Pilate asked him again, 'Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.' But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.
Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked. Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. Then he answered them, 'Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?' For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate spoke to them again, Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?' They shouted back, 'Crucify him!' Pilate asked them, Why, what evil has he done?' But they shouted all the more, 'Crucify him!'
The Nicene Creed places Jesus' death firmly within human history. This is the text that has ironically made Pontius Pilate's name immortal. Pilate was just one of many throughout history who decide that to 'maintain order' and keep hold of power is worth the cost in human life. Many atrocities have been committed, but so have infinitely more, smaller injustices by those just doing their job or following orders.
Crucifixion was common in the Roman Empire. We fail to do justice to the significance of Jesus' crucifixion if we think of it in isolation from the many thousands crucified before, with and since Jesus, and the many who have justice denied them at the hands of the powerful. We are faced with the question: where do we stand - with Pontius Pilate or Jesus of Nazareth?
Yet tucked into the Nicene Creed is a phrase we could so easily miss - for our sake. It reminds us that Jesus' crucifixion was also unique. God's own Son, who had done nothing wrong, chose the cross in our place, so that we could be reconciled to God. In the shocking violence and brutality of Jesus' crucifixion,
God's love is even more visible.
Day 11: Was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and was made man
Luke 1.30-35 (NRSVA)
The angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.
Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I am a virgin?' The angel said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.'
Can you think back to a time when you've said to someone, 'if it hadn't been for you... ? Perhaps it was a time when you were making a life-changing decision, or when an opportunity came your way.
The exchange between the angel and Mary has inspired countless artists down the ages, but who has truly caught that moment of suspense between the angel's greeting and Mary's 'yes'? There is an old story that the whole universe held its breath before Mary replied to the heavenly messenger.
But Mary did say yes, and it was through her 'yes', and the power of the Holy Spirit that God came into our world as one of us, with a human body, Jesus Christ. God chose to experience the physicality of human life, the vulnerability of childhood, the daily frustrations of everyday existence. God chose to be close to us, live among us, and to invite us to be part of all that he is doing. God is not distant or withdrawn, he's right here with us in all the complexities of our everyday lives
The angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.
Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I am a virgin?' The angel said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.'
Can you think back to a time when you've said to someone, 'if it hadn't been for you... ? Perhaps it was a time when you were making a life-changing decision, or when an opportunity came your way.
The exchange between the angel and Mary has inspired countless artists down the ages, but who has truly caught that moment of suspense between the angel's greeting and Mary's 'yes'? There is an old story that the whole universe held its breath before Mary replied to the heavenly messenger.
But Mary did say yes, and it was through her 'yes', and the power of the Holy Spirit that God came into our world as one of us, with a human body, Jesus Christ. God chose to experience the physicality of human life, the vulnerability of childhood, the daily frustrations of everyday existence. God chose to be close to us, live among us, and to invite us to be part of all that he is doing. God is not distant or withdrawn, he's right here with us in all the complexities of our everyday lives
Day 10: For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven
Philippians 2.5-7 (NRSVA)
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.
There are many occasions when it feels good to know that someone is 'for you', that there is someone to speak for you when you feel you're not being listened to, or simply someone standing alongside you when you're going through a tough time. Even in a court of law, the accused will have a defence lawyer, someone to speak on their behalf.
Sometimes we might forget the extent to which God is 'for us'. But that little phrase in the Creed, 'for us', rings so loudly in the New Testament. It speaks of God's motive in sending Christ to show his love for the world. It also reminds us how Jesus, in his earthly ministry, came alongside people, especially those who were marginalised, those who were viewed with suspicion, and those who felt they didn't belong. Jesus joined the line alongside those who were queuing to be baptized by John in the river Jordan and warned those who thought too highly of themselves that it was the humble who would be exalted.
Knowing how much God loves us - how much God is 'for us' - we are invited to live this out in our everyday relationships and encounters.
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.
There are many occasions when it feels good to know that someone is 'for you', that there is someone to speak for you when you feel you're not being listened to, or simply someone standing alongside you when you're going through a tough time. Even in a court of law, the accused will have a defence lawyer, someone to speak on their behalf.
Sometimes we might forget the extent to which God is 'for us'. But that little phrase in the Creed, 'for us', rings so loudly in the New Testament. It speaks of God's motive in sending Christ to show his love for the world. It also reminds us how Jesus, in his earthly ministry, came alongside people, especially those who were marginalised, those who were viewed with suspicion, and those who felt they didn't belong. Jesus joined the line alongside those who were queuing to be baptized by John in the river Jordan and warned those who thought too highly of themselves that it was the humble who would be exalted.
Knowing how much God loves us - how much God is 'for us' - we are invited to live this out in our everyday relationships and encounters.
Day 9: Through Him all things were made
Colossians 1.15-20 (NRSVA)
Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers - all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
An important part of close relationships is that we take delight in those we love. Being in their presence brings us joy.
In the cathedral in Monreale, Sicily, there are a series of mosaics which show Christ as creator, calling the birds of the air and fish of the sea into existence. Most of them look attentively at their Lord, but one little owl is sneaking off in the opposite direction. In another mosaic, Christ, apparently concentrating hard, carefully places the sun and moon in their places in the heavens. Of course, this wasn't intended to be a realistic depiction of creation! But it points to God the Son's involvement in the making of all things. He is the source of our life, and delights in the world he came to save. Proverbs 8 speaks of this joy and pleasure in the act of creation. There is a playful quality to the Monreale mosaics which encourages us to recognise and be thankful for that divine delight.
The God we encounter in Jesus is the God who makes all things - and who rejoices in all that is. This includes us - God takes delight in us and looks at us in love.
Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers - all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
An important part of close relationships is that we take delight in those we love. Being in their presence brings us joy.
In the cathedral in Monreale, Sicily, there are a series of mosaics which show Christ as creator, calling the birds of the air and fish of the sea into existence. Most of them look attentively at their Lord, but one little owl is sneaking off in the opposite direction. In another mosaic, Christ, apparently concentrating hard, carefully places the sun and moon in their places in the heavens. Of course, this wasn't intended to be a realistic depiction of creation! But it points to God the Son's involvement in the making of all things. He is the source of our life, and delights in the world he came to save. Proverbs 8 speaks of this joy and pleasure in the act of creation. There is a playful quality to the Monreale mosaics which encourages us to recognise and be thankful for that divine delight.
The God we encounter in Jesus is the God who makes all things - and who rejoices in all that is. This includes us - God takes delight in us and looks at us in love.
Day 8: Begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father
John 1.1-2, 14-18 (NRSVA)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. John testified to him and cried out, This was he of whom I said, "He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'') From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.
What are they like?' If someone asked us to describe a good friend, we would probably reach for words that describe their personality, their appearance and their interests. But, however detailed, that picture would still be incomplete. It would be much better to meet them in person.
The Creed's language of 'one being' can be rather confusing, but these verses from John remind us of the key thing: that God the Father and God the Son are both God in the same way as each other. Unlike everything else in the universe, the Son was not made, not created, but has always existed timelessly with the Father. In today's reading, John talks about God's Word: Jesus, he is saying, is the expression, the manifestation, of God's thoughts - he is the very Word of God.
The Creed and the verses from John both tell us that the Son has always been divine, and the word 'begotten' is used as a metaphor to stress this. The important point is that God the Son is divine from the beginning. If we want to know what God is like, we look to Jesus.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. John testified to him and cried out, This was he of whom I said, "He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'') From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.
What are they like?' If someone asked us to describe a good friend, we would probably reach for words that describe their personality, their appearance and their interests. But, however detailed, that picture would still be incomplete. It would be much better to meet them in person.
The Creed's language of 'one being' can be rather confusing, but these verses from John remind us of the key thing: that God the Father and God the Son are both God in the same way as each other. Unlike everything else in the universe, the Son was not made, not created, but has always existed timelessly with the Father. In today's reading, John talks about God's Word: Jesus, he is saying, is the expression, the manifestation, of God's thoughts - he is the very Word of God.
The Creed and the verses from John both tell us that the Son has always been divine, and the word 'begotten' is used as a metaphor to stress this. The important point is that God the Son is divine from the beginning. If we want to know what God is like, we look to Jesus.
Day 7 is Sunday, and the whole Nicene Creed is said in church today
Day 6: God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God
John 1.1-5 (NRSVA)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
We all know people who are really good at explaining things. Some people just have a knack for unpacking a subject in a clear and succinct way, or offering insight about a particular problem.
The opening of John's Gospel contains a remarkable set of statements. In these poetic words, John unpacks who God is. He also explores complex concepts about time and how Jesus fits into the cosmic story of God's action in the world. John takes us further back than Genesis and the beginning of creation - before the creation of everything, eternal and before time, when only God existed. God is the source and creator of all things. And, from the very beginning, God is Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
At the heart of God's character and the relationship of the Trinity is love. In so much of the Bible, the imagery of light is used to illustrate love - Jesus is God's light coming into the world. As we seek to live our faith in everyday life, we too reflect the light of God in the world today. A kind word, a thoughtful action, commitment to justice - all of these can be ways of reflecting God's light to those around us.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
We all know people who are really good at explaining things. Some people just have a knack for unpacking a subject in a clear and succinct way, or offering insight about a particular problem.
The opening of John's Gospel contains a remarkable set of statements. In these poetic words, John unpacks who God is. He also explores complex concepts about time and how Jesus fits into the cosmic story of God's action in the world. John takes us further back than Genesis and the beginning of creation - before the creation of everything, eternal and before time, when only God existed. God is the source and creator of all things. And, from the very beginning, God is Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
At the heart of God's character and the relationship of the Trinity is love. In so much of the Bible, the imagery of light is used to illustrate love - Jesus is God's light coming into the world. As we seek to live our faith in everyday life, we too reflect the light of God in the world today. A kind word, a thoughtful action, commitment to justice - all of these can be ways of reflecting God's light to those around us.
Day 5: We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father
Hebrews 1.1-3 (NRSVA)
Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word.
We don't always immediately understand the meaning of what we hear. But when we do, we might say:
'Oh, I can see what you're saying.' This is an interesting expression. We don't mean it literally, in the sense of somehow seeing the words that are being spoken. No, we hear the words and grasp something of their
meaning.
The Letter to the Hebrews tells us that God had spoken to his people in many and various ways but now has spoken directly to us through his Son. The Gospel of John describes Jesus as 'the Word'. And because God's Son was a human being who lived among us, we can really see who God is and what God has done for us. The Son shows us the Father, as Jesus says in John's Gospel: 'whoever has seen me has seen the Father'. Jesus is not simply a teacher like any other teacher trying to get a message across to others. He is uniquely divine, the eternal Son of God. And, as God's beloved Son, we profess Jesus as Lord. He is the one to whom we are called to give ourselves wholeheartedly - in worship and in loving service to the world.
Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word.
We don't always immediately understand the meaning of what we hear. But when we do, we might say:
'Oh, I can see what you're saying.' This is an interesting expression. We don't mean it literally, in the sense of somehow seeing the words that are being spoken. No, we hear the words and grasp something of their
meaning.
The Letter to the Hebrews tells us that God had spoken to his people in many and various ways but now has spoken directly to us through his Son. The Gospel of John describes Jesus as 'the Word'. And because God's Son was a human being who lived among us, we can really see who God is and what God has done for us. The Son shows us the Father, as Jesus says in John's Gospel: 'whoever has seen me has seen the Father'. Jesus is not simply a teacher like any other teacher trying to get a message across to others. He is uniquely divine, the eternal Son of God. And, as God's beloved Son, we profess Jesus as Lord. He is the one to whom we are called to give ourselves wholeheartedly - in worship and in loving service to the world.
Day 4: Maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen
Genesis 1.1-5 (NRSVA)
In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
God created everything, 'seen and unseen'. There is so much in those three words to make us marvel! We might think of the vastness of outer space: all those myriads of stars, dust clouds, comets, and all the other objects out there, most of which we cannot see with the naked eye, or even with the very best telescopes. It's on a scale that the mind can't take in.
We might think of the mysterious depths of the ocean, which scientists are only just beginning to study.
Or we might think of the microscopic worlds within our own, too small to see, but just as much part of God's creation - the mysteries of our own bodies, or perhaps vital organisms in the soil that we cannot see but on which our lives depend.
But we might also think of the multitude of people who have gone before us in faith. Or the unseen orders of angels, who are continually praising God, and who assist us in ways we cannot begin to imagine.
God's creation is a marvellous thing. It is also a mysterious thing. We cannot spend too much time giving him thanks for it.
In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
God created everything, 'seen and unseen'. There is so much in those three words to make us marvel! We might think of the vastness of outer space: all those myriads of stars, dust clouds, comets, and all the other objects out there, most of which we cannot see with the naked eye, or even with the very best telescopes. It's on a scale that the mind can't take in.
We might think of the mysterious depths of the ocean, which scientists are only just beginning to study.
Or we might think of the microscopic worlds within our own, too small to see, but just as much part of God's creation - the mysteries of our own bodies, or perhaps vital organisms in the soil that we cannot see but on which our lives depend.
But we might also think of the multitude of people who have gone before us in faith. Or the unseen orders of angels, who are continually praising God, and who assist us in ways we cannot begin to imagine.
God's creation is a marvellous thing. It is also a mysterious thing. We cannot spend too much time giving him thanks for it.
Day 3: The Father, the Almighty.
Ephesians 3. 14-15
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name.
'Father' is a powerful word - one that is likely to create a response in us, for good or ill. For some, it's associated with love, nurturing, and protection. For others, it may be the opposite. And 'almighty' might be even trickier. Today we are often inclined to be a bit suspicious of power and those who wield it.
Modern culture encourages us to want to be masters of our own destiny and shapers of our own lives. And the reality is that we can all identify many painful instances when power has been abused. This makes scepticism about those who exercise power over others inevitable and, to a degree, even necessary.
But Paul's words can help re-orient us. He reminds us that both human fatherhood and human power
are, even at their best, only shadows of the reality found in God. God is entirely loving, wise, and trustworthy. When we exercise power and responsibility in our families, our jobs and hobbies, or in any aspect of our lives, we can only do so well if we allow ourselves to be shaped more closely into the image and likeness of God.
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name.
'Father' is a powerful word - one that is likely to create a response in us, for good or ill. For some, it's associated with love, nurturing, and protection. For others, it may be the opposite. And 'almighty' might be even trickier. Today we are often inclined to be a bit suspicious of power and those who wield it.
Modern culture encourages us to want to be masters of our own destiny and shapers of our own lives. And the reality is that we can all identify many painful instances when power has been abused. This makes scepticism about those who exercise power over others inevitable and, to a degree, even necessary.
But Paul's words can help re-orient us. He reminds us that both human fatherhood and human power
are, even at their best, only shadows of the reality found in God. God is entirely loving, wise, and trustworthy. When we exercise power and responsibility in our families, our jobs and hobbies, or in any aspect of our lives, we can only do so well if we allow ourselves to be shaped more closely into the image and likeness of God.
Day 2: In One God
Ephesians 4.1-6 (NRSVA)
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
If you had to try and describe God, where would you start? It's a rather daunting task! The Nicene Creed will go on to describe many aspects of God. But it begins by affirming that God is one.
This 'oneness' of God is a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith - as of many faiths. The earth, and our lives, are not subject to the whims of multiple deities at odds with one another. All of creation is sustained, in love, by the one God who made it and made us. As Christians, we believe not only in the oneness of our Creator, but that this one God is someone we can know personally, who invites us into relationship.
For Paul, the author of today's reading, the fact that God is one has big implications for our lives. Just as God is one, Paul encourages us to be in unity with others. Our differences may be important, and we're asked not to brush them under the carpet. But the fact that we are all beloved children of the same one God is even more significant. Alongside our differences, we need to pay attention to the even greater things which unite us with the other members of God's family.
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
If you had to try and describe God, where would you start? It's a rather daunting task! The Nicene Creed will go on to describe many aspects of God. But it begins by affirming that God is one.
This 'oneness' of God is a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith - as of many faiths. The earth, and our lives, are not subject to the whims of multiple deities at odds with one another. All of creation is sustained, in love, by the one God who made it and made us. As Christians, we believe not only in the oneness of our Creator, but that this one God is someone we can know personally, who invites us into relationship.
For Paul, the author of today's reading, the fact that God is one has big implications for our lives. Just as God is one, Paul encourages us to be in unity with others. Our differences may be important, and we're asked not to brush them under the carpet. But the fact that we are all beloved children of the same one God is even more significant. Alongside our differences, we need to pay attention to the even greater things which unite us with the other members of God's family.
Day 1: We Believe
2 Corinthians 4. 13-14
But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture - 'I believed, as so I spoke' - we also believe, and so we speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence.
We live in a culture which places a lot of emphasis on the individual. My rights, my decisions, my capacity to spend or earn money. But there are vital signs that we are made to relate to others. When we find ourselves isolated or lonely, our minds and bodies suffer. We need one another.
In the Christian faith, we are joined together by the God who creates us. We embody shared beliefs, values and practices which transcend time and space. In embodying these shared values and beliefs, we articulate them too. The Nicene Creed is a statement of faith threading itself through 1700 years of Christian history which continues to be affirmed regularly in our worship.
Whilst the statements within the Nicene Creed connect with our own personal faith, God creates us to be relational. We are brought together as the body of Christ, called to celebrate community and belonging.
As God's family on earth, we reflect the fact that God's very self is relational - God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When we say the creed, we never say it alone or solely for ourselves - we join our voices with the communion of faith across the world and stretching through time, as we say, We believe'.
But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture - 'I believed, as so I spoke' - we also believe, and so we speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence.
We live in a culture which places a lot of emphasis on the individual. My rights, my decisions, my capacity to spend or earn money. But there are vital signs that we are made to relate to others. When we find ourselves isolated or lonely, our minds and bodies suffer. We need one another.
In the Christian faith, we are joined together by the God who creates us. We embody shared beliefs, values and practices which transcend time and space. In embodying these shared values and beliefs, we articulate them too. The Nicene Creed is a statement of faith threading itself through 1700 years of Christian history which continues to be affirmed regularly in our worship.
Whilst the statements within the Nicene Creed connect with our own personal faith, God creates us to be relational. We are brought together as the body of Christ, called to celebrate community and belonging.
As God's family on earth, we reflect the fact that God's very self is relational - God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When we say the creed, we never say it alone or solely for ourselves - we join our voices with the communion of faith across the world and stretching through time, as we say, We believe'.