OUR FATHER WHO IS NOT IN HEAVEN - Don Hanley’s blog #59

I'm reading a very enlightening book, QUANTUM THEOLOGY, by Diarmuid O’Murchu. I’m sure that’s not a household name. But he is a very clear writer and writes in English. The first writer who introduced me to the idea that God is present throughout reality was Teilhard de Chardin, who wrote in French and translated into English. I found it very difficult to understand, but when I read him in l960, he inspired me to stay in the seminary and continue studying for the priesthood. I liked the theory that debunked the traditional European idea that there is a three-decker universe = Earth – here, where I am sitting; Heaven – where God sits on His throne and fiddles with earthlings; and where we’ll go if we’re good, and Hell – where we’ll go if we are bad.

I wanted to ask John and Luke what Jesus had said about the nature of the Father.

I learned that Luke had returned to Jerusalem with the surgeon, and Paul was feeling better. He, John, Mary, Ruth, Joshua, and Julie were happily chatting on a beautiful day as they sat in Mary’s flower garden in Nazareth. After the greetings, I turned to John and said, “You spent many hours with Jesus, and I’m wondering how Jesus viewed our heavenly Father and told you of his thoughts.”

John glanced at Paul and said, “I’ve been talking with Paul almost non-stop about Jesus since he woke up from his coma. And I told him that Jesus only called God, “Father” and once I heard him use the Mosaic term YaHWeH as has been customary among us Jews.” Paul added, “And you said that he never talked about the Father as if he was in a place you just called ‘heaven.’ John said Jesus would look up toward the sky to indicate that he thought that the Father is above us, but not on a different plane of existence.”

Paul nodded in agreement and John continued, “He and I were both impressed by the holy men in the east who made it clear that God as they envisioned him was with us at all times and everywhere – even with all animals and all of nature. And why do you ask?”

“For centuries and even now, many Christians believe that there is a triune, or three-person God; that is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. And that all three sometimes answer our prayers of petition if we are properly disposed.”

“Wow, that is something different; the first three persons are only one god, and they sometimes ‘answer’ our prayers? Do you mean perform miracles and give us some kind of special gift? Like what?” John asked, and Luke nodded.

“If I’m sick, I might pray that God will make me well. Or that Jesus will give us a boy-child when my wife is pregnant. Things like that.”

Luke looked at John and said, “Well, Jews have always done that, but it was more a prayer of hope than a petition, I think. What do you think, John?”

John nodded and said, “I agree and added that he thought some folks expected more, and if God didn’t grant their wishes, it meant that God did not love them or, more likely, that they were not favored by God. If I am talking with someone who thinks that, I try to convince them that God does not think like that.  We have encountered many people who think that Jesus will heal them if they touch him or even his cloak or something. Jesus discourages that and encourages them to love and care for others, and their lives will be positive and blessed. How do you respond to them in your day?”

“I respond the same way you do; sometimes they listen, and sometimes they even turn away from any belief in Jesus or God. Too often, they have little faith in their lovability and power and give up hope. And that makes me sad, and I was about to ask John about Jesus’s view on the Messiah, and damn it–I disappeared too soon, I often had that thought, anyway, keep . . . 

Nurturing your heart and hope. Do not eat the menus; share your banquet of hope and acceptance.