Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
Beyond the Known Limit
Telescopes provide a whole new way to see the cosmos, and over the centuries since their invention, we have expanded our understanding of the known universe. For example, we keep increasing our estimate of just how many galaxies are out there. In another hundred years, that number will no doubt be even greater. Will we ever find a fixed boundary?
We might view love as we do the universe. We might experience a limit to love today, but as we embrace the truth that God is love, we continually discover another truth; there is no limit to love...... Jesus says all is contained in the two great commandments--love God, and love neighbor as self.
On Pentecost, the church was given the profound gift of love by the Holy Spirit, flowing and very much alive. The church is encouraged to dive deep into that love, to experiment with and experience the reality of love, as shown to us by the God who created us.
One practical way to know God's love is to acknowledge there is so much more to learn about it. We allow for the possibility of infinity in how God expresses love, whether for the person we see in the mirror or for the person who angers us the most.
The Trinity is often shown in ancient art as the Holy Triune gathered around a table in deep and honest conversation. This conversation began way before the beginning, continues in the present, and lives forevermore. The ancient art often offers the viewer a space in the holy circle for one more person. That "one more" is each one of us.
When Jesus says, "I have many things to say to you", we give thanks that at the holy table, the triune God invites us to sit together and then gifts us with all the time in the universe for each one of us to listen to the loving words God has to say.