“Called, Baptized,
Co-Creating” by Beth DeCristofaro
Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this
Scripture passage, he proclaimed Jesus to him. As they traveled along the road they
came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?" Then
he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into
the water, and he baptized him.
(Acts 8:
Jesus said to the crowds: "No one can come to me
unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It
is written in the prophets: “They
shall all be taught by God.” Everyone who listens to my Father and
learns from him comes to me.
(John 6:44-45)
Piety
I lift my eyes to you,
giving thanks, O God, just as did your son and my brother, Jesus. I ask you to draw me out of unbelief and
teach me to actively, emboldened by the Spirit, be a co-creator in your
Kingdom.
Study
Do you remember that
moment when you watched a butterfly emerge from its chrysalis, unfurl its wings
and take off? Suddenly you believed what
you had been taught – that caterpillars become butterflies! Or did you fall on
the sidewalk hitting your head so hard that you almost passed out and yet you
ran for home because you believed that mom would fix it? Or have you had that heart-melting moment
when you first held a warm, sweet-smelling infant and suddenly believed that
the world was a more pleasing place?
These human moments, when a new certainty enters our lives, are
important moments in who we are and how we really live not just exist.
In John’s Gospel, God
is portrayed as offering, coming to us, welcoming us at all moments and in a
special way breaking open history by introducing us to Jesus, one of us yet one
with God. Jesus touches hearts open to
God in a way never before possible and asks for our belief. It is in our acquiescence which eternal life
takes root. God enters and dwells within as God wills whether we are a temple
leader, a poor peasant, a pagan eunuch or a modern human as long as we are open
to that will.
Jesus’ relationship
with God is displayed again and again as reciprocal, loving, respectful. Richard Rohr writes “Trinitarian theology says
that spiritual power is more circular or spiral, not so much hierarchical. It’s here, within us. It’s shared and shareable; it’s already
entirely for us and grounded within us.
What hope this gives! Trinity
shows that God’s power is not any kind of domination, threat or coercion. All divine power is shared power and the
letting go of autonomous power. This God
is not seeking control as we do, but handing on the power to the Other.”[i]
Action
Hildegard of Bingen
called humans “co-creators” with God. No, I can’t create a butterfly much less
a squishy caterpillar but I can help co-create God’s kingdom here on
earth. In what way am I
co-creating? In what way might I be stifling
the shared power and belief inherent in my Baptism? To whom might I interpret Jesus through my
life?
[i] The
Power of Giving and Receiving Theme: Trinity: Part 1, Richard Rohr, OFM;
Wednesday, May 8, 2019. https://cac.org/the-power-of-giving-and-receiving-2019-05-08/
Illustration: Eglise Saint-Samson, Bobital, Côtes d'armor,
France, La Trinité, rosace, facade ouest
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