Mepkin Abbey

January 14, 2013

Ø Back in the seminary in the 1960’s, the first course that we took in theology was on Revelation

Ø It was an attempt to ground us initially in how God reveals himself or make himself known to us?

Ø Or to put it from our perspective, how do we get to know God?

Ø Knowing God is issue underlying today’s first reading

AND MORE +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø God first reveals himself in and through creation

Ø The wonder of the universe, the beauty of the earth, the mystery of life – the idea is that creation speaks of God to us

Ø And yet, as Pope Benedict says, “Nature can be marvelous: the starry heavens are stupendous

Ø But our reaction to that remains no more than an impersonal wonder

Ø The real God is more than that”

Ø Holy Father goes on: “The whole of God is the act of relating and this is what we mean when we say that God is a Trinity”

PROPHETS +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø So, as the Letter to the Hebrews says today, “God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets”

Ø That is, God inspired individuals to reveal who he is and what he expects of us

Ø But as with creation – once again and now with the prophets – the revelation of God remains incomplete

Jesus Christ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø The Letter says, “In these days, God spoke to us through the Son … the very imprint of his being.”

Ø So when it comes to this self-revealing God, we move from creation to the prophets to very son of God, J

Ø He is the perfect communication, the complete revelation of God

Ø And in him we can come to know God relationally and fully

CONCLUSION +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø God’s self revelation and our being drawn up into it is supported by creation, the prophets and becomes relational with Jesus as a person

Ø Contemplative prayer/presence brings us face-to-face with that reality

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++