Greeting: Catherine Maresca
The Spirit is the first person of the Trinity mentioned in the Bible.
The word “God” precedes this mention but God is God, and the first hint
that there is 3 persons IN God is when we hear in Genesis 1, 1 “The Spirit of
God was brooding over the surface of the water.” So our focus today will be
on this person, the Spirit, brooding over this community, creating something
new among us. Let us listen to the readings carefully, not with attention to
what happens, but with attention to what each mention of the spirit tells us
about Her. We begin in the name of God our Mother, Jesus our beloved
friend, and Sofia Spirit abiding with us and in us always.
1st Reading: Acts 2:1-11
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:3-7 and 12-13
Gospel: John 20:19-23
Reflection: Catherine Maresca
Sometimes I think the least intuitive doctrine of our faith is the Trinity. And
yet the Trinity has often led me to long reflections on God with us in at
least three distinct ways, as three distinct persons, each with their own
name, their unique work, and particular way of engaging us in relationship.
These have been rich, rich reflections for me, and never finished, as I move
through life and meet God in ever new ways.
This year I was startled by a song I heard at a conference by an artist from
“down under.” The line that grabbed me was firmly flung out: She has a
name, of her own. She is the window of eternal light, she is the grace and
the hope of insight, she is the power, the wisdom, Sophia…She has a name
of her own. This got me thinking that we have been introduced to Sophia as
a title, a thing, a function, “of God” …but not as a person. In some way the
church has diminished and subjugated the Sophia by refusing to name her.
The name for Wisdom is female Hebrew, but it was translated and used in
Greek by the early church as a male name, and then attached to the person
of Christ. (Hagia Sophia). Even then there was fear of female names of God,
and this has not diminished. I’ve heard many theologians use “she” for the
Holy spirit, but never have they given her a name.
When we meet a person, what is the first thing we learn about her? When a
child is born, what is the first thing friends and family ask about her? When
our name no longer fits who we are, we ask people to call us by one that fits
us better. By what name shall we call Sophia?
This is both a personal question and a communal one. What name matches
the work of Sophia in your life? What name helps you to hold her dearly,
turn to her for help, recognize her presence with you? This may be different
for each of us – and we can and should ask for and use a name that fits our
unique relationship. We also need a name, or several names, to use in our
communal prayer and reflection. Names that the whole community would
recognize. Today I am using Sophia in our liturgy, but this may or may not
be the name by which PAX call upon her.
Our communal and personal search for a name for Sophia can begin with
the attributes and actions and even forms associated with the her in today’s
readings, and others throughout the Bible. Take a quiet minute to consider
and then type into the chat some words that catch the character of her –
gifts, fruits, acts, that come to you as you pray.
the breath of God
Love
flowing
comforter, advocate, guide
Intimacy
compassion
fire
Wisdom, discerning, guiding
noise
Fount of courage and justice
loving
renewing the face of the earth
peace
with us
Defender of the little ones
creating
friend
understanding
Giver
Source of LIFE
inclusiveness
breath of all that lives
Justice, right relationship
strength
tenderness
like rain that waters the earth
From these words we can search for names. Perhaps in Hebrew, Greek, a
Romance language, or the language of your own heritage. Some names
have a similar meaning in many languages, including those of Asia, the
continent which birthed many of the world’s great religions, including our own.
So please begin to suggest names in the chat from around the world that
suit your understanding and experience of Sophia. Type the name and
original language, as well as its meaning in English.
Mana: Hawaiian – spirit and strength
Ruah – the spirit on the water
Rachel
Liebe (love)
Sustainer of Life
Compassionate: Italian
Alma luz: Spanish – soul light
Adonai – Holy of Holies
Ariana: Greek – Most Holy
Tara: Hindu & Buddhist – protection & compassion; Himalayan – wisdom; Latin – earth; Hebrew – star; India – light of the soul
inch taipan: Mongolian
Enkh Taivan: Mongolian
God’s Grandeur
In Islam, there is a list called the 99 Beautiful Names. These are names for
God, often recounted with a rosary of 100 beads. Let’s create our own
beautiful names for Sophia.
As we finish, I’d like to encourage each of you to adopt a name for Sophia
to use for your own prayer and relationship with her, and also be attentive
to names that can be used in our PAX liturgies to remind us that Sophia is
a person in the Trinity seeking relationship with us, one where we can call
each other by name. We will close with a litany using these names, after
each one, please respond with invitation – Come!
Holy Spirit Creed Excerpts from PAX creeds created for Pentecost 2022 by C. Hookey
We believe, O God, that all of life is your revelation to us, if we but have the eyes to see it, the ears to hear it, and the spirit to live it.
We believe Jesus was born of Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Creator and the Son. With the Creator and the Son, the Spirit is worshiped and glorified. The Spirit has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, groaning with us, as we pray for things too deep for words.
We believe the Holy Spirit, in a manner known only to God, offers to every man and woman the possibility of being associated with the paschal mystery.
We believe in the Holy Spirit of God, given to us to enable us to forgive and comfort, heal and rebuild communities of hope and love in global solidarity.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, source of wisdom and strength, who ever shares the life of Jesus with us.
We believe the Holy Spirit is present in the world and within each living being. We believe in the grace the Spirit imparts and the constancy with which the Spirit opens new and more perfect possibilities for creativity, purpose, and love in our lives.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the breath of God, the promise of the coming Kingdom, who gives us the strength to tell, nay, proclaim the Good News of salvation.
We believe with the Holy Spirit we can all see things in a new way.
We belong to the Holy Spirit, who gives us new life and strengthens our faith. In the Spirit love is breathing. In the Spirit truth is living. In the Spirit we are united.
We believe the Holy Spirit lives with the communities that practice compassion and forgiveness, acts in us when we raise our hands to bless and help one another, comforts the dying, and gives us hope for the resurrection of the body and eternal life with God.
Amen.