Reflection
In
the 2007 bestselling novel, The Shack, we encounter an unusual
manifestation of the three persons of the Trinity. God the Father takes
the form of an African American woman who calls herself Elousia and Papa; Jesus
is a Middle Eastern carpenter; and the Holy Spirit physically manifests as an
Asian woman named Sarayu.
I think the picture of this unusual and loving community is part
of what gave The
Shack its enormous popularity. It tapped into the personal and
relational truth about the Trinity and the multifaceted
characteristics of God and God’s response to human suffering.
Now I am not trying to promote this
book, yet… I am trying to promote the notion of our God, whereby each one of us
is made in the image and likeness of… no matter our skin color, language,
social status, expression of faith, etc. … In light of all that is happening in
our world and communities today- racial and economic inequity, division,
frustration, violence, all in the midst a global pandemic; it may be helpful
for us to expand our images of God and God’s response to all our personal and
collective pain.
In our desire to image the Liberating and
Triune God, may we strive to live in solidarity with all marginalized people
including people of color, people living in poverty, the young and the old,
people living with disabilities, uprooted people, people living in fear of
Covid19, people grieving…
Let us commit to address the justice struggles of our global
community, and the justice struggles relevant to our own communities. May we
bear witness to the hopeful vision of a just and inclusive Church and society,
believing that the Spirit of unity is diversity, that the challenge of the
Gospel is justice. Remembering that all of this exists within the dynamic
relationships that exist within the community of the Trinity.