Ineffable

27Apr

If you know me, you will know* my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’


Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied. Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works.


-John 14:7-10

A pop-culture women’s magazine famously declared on its cover, “Rachael Ray likes cooking her family and her dog.”. In the cover photo, the dog in Rachael Ray’s arms did not seem concerned. I’m guessing the pup was not a reader or had heard about Rachael Ray’s cooking.


Of course, the tag-line was missing key punctuation that would have changed the meaning to simply list three things Rachael Ray likes: cooking, her family, and her dog. 


Keeping three tangibles properly ordered is a matter language can sort out with a comma or two. On the other hand, using language to touch, to speak adequately of the eternal Love of God is a daunting undertaking. In fact, I think we can agree language can’t do it…yet we try, as we must; because the yearning to seek God is burned into humankind’s DNA. God loves us so much, he made it ultimately impossible for us to do other than to return to him. We even have a word to describe our gorgeous frustration with using language to fathom God’s Love: ineffable. 

When Moses asked who is sending him to free the Jews from Egyptian captivity, the answer from the burning bush is translated as, “I Am.” That was humankind’s best shot at translating something that likely sounded like Chewbacca’s Wookie call. Some Sunday, we ought to gather in our sanctuary and call out to God in our best Wookie call. 


Although we continue to use words in our faith practice, I find peace in the truth that we cannot grasp the breadth of God’s Love through language; because I am certain we would quickly move from seeing to grasping to hoarding, then to manipulating; and we would be back in the Garden munching on the best fruits, hoping to share in God’s wisdom. I’ll take the peace of not knowing; there is nothing to fear in God’s ineffable depths.


In my first days in Alcoholics Anonymous, a sponsor suggested a mantra to contemplate in meditation. It went like this, “The only thing in this life that is Real is the Love of God. And I am glad it is so.”     


Musical Reflection - Nothing to Fear - The Porter's Gate

I thank you great God for your ineffable Love. It is enough and I am glad it is so. Amen.

JoyEaster

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