super complex - super simple

Today we read the February 6 selection from A Year with C.S. Lewis.

Lewis talks about the relationship between the Father and the Son today. And while he's right, and the relationship is best described the way the NT describes it – as Father and Son – it's not like it's a simple thing. In the creed, we understand that Jesus came from the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, one in being with the Father, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father. But what in the world does that really mean?

Well, we don't know. It's a mystery. The most basic tenet of Christianity, the Trinity, is what we know of as a mystery, which is a theological way of saying that it's too complicated for our human brains to understand it fully. But the cool thing about it is that we don't have to understand it. There isn't going to be a pop quiz where we have to explain the relationship between the three persons of the Trinity.

The personhood of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are so complex and impossible to explain that we can spend our lives pondering it, finding fruit in that pondering, and never find the bottom of it. And yet, He makes it simple for us. We are to “take and eat”, receiving His body and blood. We are to love everyone. If someone is your friend, love them. If they're your enemy? Love them. No matter who they are, we should love them and treat them the way we would want to be treated.

That's what's great about God. So deep that we can contemplate Him forever and still only begin to scratch the surface of who He is. But He keeps His commands simple. Love God. Love other people. Seek first His kingdom and everything else will fall into place.

Thank You, God, for Your amazing complexity... and the simplicity of your commands.