Bryan Sherwood

Trinity Sunday

(Rublev's The Trinity Icon)

I guess my brain was zoned out last year; I don't really remember Trinity Sunday. I know the Church celebrated it but I don't remember doing so but here we are. It's time to pay special attention to the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

It's no surprise that the Church will hear Scripture from Genesis 1 and Matthew 28.16-20. You can't read those passages without seeing the Trinity. Amazing as it sounds to me now, there have been those in the church who did not believe in the Trinity. You can read about Arianism here. As this controversy developed in the church of Alexandria, Constantine called together the First Council of Nicea which condemned the teachings of Arius and formulated the Nicene Creed, which is still recited today.

I leave you with today's collect from the Book of Common Prayer:

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Pentecost - A Collect

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that is may reach the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (From the Book of Common Prayer)

The Holy Spirit and Our Brain

Tomorrow the church remembers Pentecost. We remember the Holy Spirit being sent to be our Comforter. I've been enjoying the readings in the daily Office as they have focused on the Holy Spirit. You see, I've been thinking about the Holy Spirit quite a lot any way. More specifically, I've been wondering about how the Spirit may interface with our brain. I know that sounds weird but stay with me.

Over the last several weeks, I've been learning about the brain. You see, I have a lot of interest in how our brain works and what kinds of things affect our moods, our feelings, etc. From what I understand, when a person is born the brain is the most undeveloped organ in the body. Early in life, both "nature" and "nurture" impact how our brain becomes "wired". Daniel Siegel in his book entitled The Developing Mind writes this about brain development:

The activation of neural pathways directly influences the way connections are made within the brain. Though experience shapes the activity of the brain and the strength of neuronal connections throughout life, experience early in life may be especially crucial in organizing the way the basic structures of the brain develop. For example, traumatic experiences at the beginning of life may have more profound effects on the "deeper" structures of the brain, which respond later to stress. Thus we see that abused children have elevated baseline and reactive stress hormone levels. More common, everyday experiences also shape brain structure. The brain's development is an "experience-dependent" process, in which experience activates certain pathways in the brain, strengthening existing connections and creating new ones. (page 11).

As I understand it, as one engages in life, those experiences can shape the very structure of our brains. That's the reason that someone who struggles with anxiety can't just "turn it off." No, the brain itself, the connections of the neural pathways have been wired in such a way that anxiety has become a normal part of how an anxious person's brain works. The good news is that the brain has "plasticity" and can change. The most change occurs early in life when our brains are most able to change but that plasticity doesn't end when one reaches adulthood.

So, if that's true, that means our experience of the Church, (through the community of believers, through the Eucharist, through the preaching of the Word, through the hearing of Scripture, etc.), could all somehow, coupled with the work of the Spirit, actually bring changes to our brain. That's a bit strange to think about.

I'm sure I'm greatly oversimplifying things but this entire subject fascinates me. It also gives me hope that as time goes on, my brain too can change in such a way that my anxiety and depression won't be such big deals in my life. Will I ever have a time I won't still struggle some in these areas? I have no way of knowing that. All I know is that I am slowly changing and things are getting better. I may not understand how it all works but I do know who is responsible for it. God is with me and His presence sustains me and holds my life together.

The Spirit of the Lord has filled the whole world, alleluia.
-- He sustains all creation and knows every word that is spoken, alleluia.

Ascension Day

Today we remember Christ's Ascension. I looked up today's collect in the BCP. (Of course, I thought it would be interesting to lookup the definition of collect, because I'm a liturgical nerd. Wikipedia has some pretty interesting info. on it here).

From the Book of Common Prayer:

Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end of the ages; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Easter Isn't Over

Easter isn't over. Yet, in my experience with churches growing up, as soon as the Easter Sunday worship service ended, it seemed that Easter was over. There was a bit of a buildup to Easter Sunday (cantatas, a Good Friday service, maybe a Passion Play, a Sunrise Service, etc.) and once Easter Sunday came, it quickly became life as usual on Sundays. It was on to the next sermon series, on to the next event that would keep the visitors coming back.

I guess that's one of the things I like about being Anglican and following the church calendar. Easter Sunday came and went and yet, Easter isn't over. No, like other traditions who follow the church calendar, we get to sit with Easter for a while. I need that time. Of course, my prayer book keeps Scripture in front of me and prayers that remind me that Easter is far from over. In my mind, that only seems right.

Pax.

Easter Sunday

Alleluia. Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Alleluia. Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Alleluia. Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.

I'm such a liturgical geek, I guess, but the Easter Vigil liturgy is my favorite of the entire church year. I really love it. And I love the moment that comes after we've heard reading after reading that shows God's saving work in history and we've renewed our baptism vows, the priest lights the altar candles and then we shout, "Alleluia. Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Allelulia." You may have heard us last night. We raised the roof on the church building, I think. What a joyful moment in the liturgy. We've not said "Alleluia" since Lent began and so, once again, we have a reason to shout Alleluia!

This morning, in Lauds, you can hear the joy as those psalms are prayed. Psalm 148, 149 and 150 were all said. These three psalms in BDP are rightly called "Cosmic praise," "Praise to the God of victories" and "Praise the Lord." They are all psalms of praise. What a nice way to start Easter Day! Here are a few verses from the beginning of Psalm 148.

Alleluia!
Praise the Lord from the heavens,
praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all his angels,
praise him all his host.

Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, shining stars.
Praise him, highest heavens
and the waters above the heavens.

Let them now praise the Lord.

We sing Alleluia to the Lamb. He has given us new life! Nothing is the same as before. Alleluia!

Alleluia. Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Good Friday Thoughts

As we make our ways through the Great Triduum, we come to Good Friday. It's a day that focuses on the Cross. We go with Jesus there. We read the Passion narrative as we see Jesus denied, betrayed, and eventually crucified. Today is a quiet day of solemnity and a day of fasting as we enter more and more into this story. Just a few days ago we shouted "Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." Today we shout "Crucify him, Crucify him."

Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Today's collect from the BCP)

The Prodigal Son, His Story and Ours

As I’ve been reading The Return of the Prodigal, I’ve wondered how I would have responded in each of those roles. Take the Prodigal son, for an example.  Here’s the younger son who has been raised by the Father who grows up and decides that the Father’s way isn’t the best way.  As a matter of fact, he asks for his share of his father’s estate.  In that culture, according to Nouwen, that would be the same as basically wishing the father was dead.  He wanted his part of the estate now so he could go and live in “freedom.”  The Prodigal wanted to do as he pleased, when he pleased and how he pleased.  We all know what it’s like to be the prodigal, don’t we?  Instead of being with the Father, we decide we’re going to a “distant country” and live our lives as we see fit.

It’s obvious in Rembrandt’s painting, that this life that the Prodigal chose for himself was difficult.  Look at his tattered clothes.  No cloak, just the bare necessities.  His shaven head intimates that he may have been enslaved.  And his feet, look at his feet—weary, barefoot, worn.  He’s missing one sandal and the other is literally falling to pieces.  It’s been a long journey, one we can assume was full of trouble and hardship. 

Eventually, the Prodigal came to his senses and realized that his way lead to death, not life.  Rembrandt’s painting shows him on his knees with his face buried in his father’s chest.  It’s a quiet moment, filled with light and forgiveness.  It’s a wonderful depiction of how our Father loves us as his Beloved--always there, always welcoming, always loving.

I think one of the most amazing parts of this story is that the Prodigal never forgot where home was and he never forgot who he was.  He was and continues to be his Father’s Beloved son.  The Father never stopped loving him even when he turned his back on his Father.  That very idea . . . that my Father loves me is one of the hardest things to understand.  He loves me.  He wants to spend time with me.  He seeks after me.  We learn that truth early on if we’ve grown up in Christianity but it continues to be a truth that is difficult for me to fully embrace. 

The Father’s love for me is one of the lessons I’m learning this Lent.  As I follow Jesus to the Cross and am confronted with my own sin, I am filled with gratefulness because the Father still loves me as his Beloved son.

Peace.

Fasting, It's Not Easy

Friday after Ash Wednesday

The sun is shining in Kentucky today and that makes me happy.  It’s been a while since it hasn’t been masked by thick clouds.  I had wondered if I would ever see a blue sky again.

Today is the first Friday in Lent.  For many of us, it’s also a day of fasting.  I’m always reminded about how weak I am when it comes to spiritual disciplines and especially fasting.  It’s not easy.  And it’s not really about me trying to be a super spiritual person and deprive myself for the sake of depriving myself.  No, this day is more about creating space for reflection and prayer and entering into the sufferings of Jesus.  The spiritual disciplines point me to Him.  I certainly won’t go through the day and not realize that I’m fasting.  It’s 11:15 a.m. and meat is on my mind, let me tell you.  My body recoils at the discipline that it’s encountering.  Yet, I believe that making room for the Spirit to work in my life slowly changes me.  There won’t be a lot of noticeable change today, that’s for sure.  Hopefully, over time, as I give myself to these disciplines, I will be able to throw open the dark places in my soul and let the Light of Christ shine in every dark crevice.

A pure heart create for me, O God, put a steadfast spirit within me.

Amen.

In These Days of Lent . . .

In these days of Lent they shall each receive a book, which they shall read straight through from the beginning. These books are to be given out at the beginning of Lent.

-- from the Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 48, On the Daily Manual Labor

I believe last year was the first year I've done this but I try to read a book as a part of my Lenten disciplines, just as St. Benedict suggests. This year, I plan to read First Fruits of Prayer: A Forty Day Journey Through the Ancient Great Canon by Frederica Matthewes-Green. Check out the description over at Paraclete Press.

What about you? What do you plan to do in the way of reading or disciplines during Lent?