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| Image by Jason Boldero |
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The Celtic Trinity
A GREETING
Create a clean heart for me, God;
put a new, faithful spirit deep inside me!
(Psalm 51:10)
A READING
Wisdom will praise herself,
and she will boast in the midst of her people.
In the assembly of the Most High,
she will open her mouth,
and in the presence of
God's heavenly forces, she will boast:
“I came forth from the mouth
of the Most High,
and I covered the earth like a mist.
I lived in the heights,
and my throne was in a pillar of cloud.
I alone encircled the vault of heaven
and walked in the depths of abysses.
In the waves of the sea and in every land,
and among every people and nation,
I led the way.
I sought a resting place
among all of these.
In whose allotted territory
should I make my home?
(Sirach 24:1-7)
MUSIC
A MEDITATIVE VERSE
The mouths of the righteous recite wisdom;
their tongues discuss justice.
(Psalm 37:30)
A POEM
We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.
- from "Touched by an Angel" by Maya Angelou
A PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Thanks be to Thee, Jesus Christ,
Who brought’st me up from last night,
To the gladsome light of this day,
To win everlasting life for my soul,
Through the blood Thou didst shed for me.
Praise be to Thee, O God, for ever,
For the blessings Thou didst bestow on me:
My food, my speech, my work, my health...
O Christ of the wounds!
Give me wisdom along with Thy grace.
May the Holy One claim me,
And protect me on sea and on land.
from Charms of the Gaels: Hymns and Incantations,
collected and edited by Alexander Carmichael
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| "Scorned of timber; beloved of the sky," by Emily Carr (1935) |
The book of Sirach, also known as Ben Sira or Ecclesiasticus, was a popular book of wisdom in the first and second centuries BCE for educational purposes and, despite being originally written in Hebrew, was circulated largely in Greek, thanks to Sirach’s grandson, who is responsible for assembling it and publishing it. A lengthy prologue by the grandson explains all this, with an apology for any gaps in translation. From today until Saturday, we will reflect on the 24th chapter of Sirach, which celebrates Creation and Wisdom.
In today’s reading, the beginning verses of Sirach 24 speak in the voice of Wisdom, who identifies herself with having been born from the mouth of God, and then covering the earth "like a mist.” The verses go on to use images of creation to establish how Wisdom grew and became strong and imbued all aspects of life. Here Wisdom is identified within the divine presence of God, that fills every created thing with its own knowledge.
In this chapter, Wisdom is also associated with aspects of the Holy Trinity. Wisdom characterizes herself in many incarnations, in which she 'comes from the mouth of God,' 'walks the earth,' and 'dwells in the clouds.' Although Sirach pre-dates Jesus, the idea of Wisdom as an embodied 'Word' that comes from God -- was not new.
The early Celtic Christians loved the Trinity and often invoked it in daily life, as much as in ritual or worship. This preoccupaton developed into a passion for 'threeness.' Saint Ita (whom we visited in Day 22), who was the great educator, was visited early in her life by a dream in which she was given three stones. She understood the stones to be the Trinity of God. The stones appeared to her throughout her life to provide direction and guidance. St. Brendan, her pupil, friend and anam cara, is reputed to have asked her what was most pleasing to God. She replied that God loved three things: a pure heart of faith, a grateful spirit, and a compassionate generous nature. This way of grouping values together has been referred to as the Celtic practice of "three essential things."
Sirach 24 holds some common ground with John 1, which is often associated with the birth of Jesus and the coming of the incarnated Christ. Wisdom leads the way and is entwined like a Celtic knot with the Word. What are the "three essential things" or ways that the Trinity moves in your own life? How much can you recommit yourself to those values as we wait for the coming of Jesus?
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| Image by Jason Boldero |
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Scripture passages are taken from The Common English Bible.
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LC† Vigil in Hope is a devotional series of Lutherans Connect, supported by the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Centre for Spirituality and Media at Martin Luther University College. To receive the devotions by email, write to lutheransconnect@gmail.com. The devotional pages are written and curated by Deacon Sherry Coman, with support and input from Pastor Steve Hoffard, Catherine Evenden and Henriette Thompson. Join us on Facebook. Lutherans Connect invites you to make a donation to the Ministry by going to this link on the website of the ELCIC Eastern Synod and selecting "Lutherans Connect Devotionals" under "Fund". Devotions are always freely offered, however your donations help support the ongoing work.
Thank you and peace be with you!
