Trinity Sunday 3.6.07
People asking about the Latin Mass are often puzzled by the fact that we pray in Latin. Why would you want to pray in a language you don’t understand, they ask.
Well, one solution to that is to learn the language as some of this congregation is doing!
But a more complete answer is that when it comes to prayer we do not have to understand every word that is spoken, nor even hear every word.
When Moses went up Mount Sinai to speak with God, the Israelites below did not hear what was said, nor would they have expected to.
They had a sense of God’s majesty and did not expect to be privy to His every word or thought.
They grasped that God was Mystery. They knew that they did not know everything.
Prayer is more than cognitive. It is an engagement of the whole person - body, mind, soul, spirit. So we can be praying even when we do not know or understand the words that may be involved.
Thus in the Latin Mass (indeed any Mass) there is a lot going on beside the words being spoken. We are entering the presence of God Himself in all His majesty and glory, and exchanging with Him a whole range of thoughts, sentiments, feelings, desires, and generally being transformed by being so close to Him.
Part of what goes on is the use of words, some of which we understand and some not; some of which we hear and some not.
The priest is not wired for sound in the Latin Mass – silence has a place, even silent words.
Coming to Mass should be understood as an overall experience: it is like entering a world bigger than we are, and just taking in as much as we can. Like entering an art gallery, or looking at the stars in the sky, or eating at a banquet.
We cannot hold all the treasures of God, so we come back another time for more.
We have all eternity to work out what we did not understand here. And guess what: we will never exhaust the mysteries of God even then, because infinity means just that – no limit.
It is appropriate today especially to consider the infinity of God, and to appreciate how lucky we are to be allowed into His presence.
The Israelites at Sinai were told that if they came too close to the mountain they would die. Imagine if we were told that: if you come too far into this church you will die! The majesty of God is so great you will be incinerated.
Well, we are not threatened with that. In fact, we are encouraged to come in, and even sit at the front. Come to Me all you who labour… etc.
Approach by all means. But come with reverence, with a sense that you are on holy ground, that the One you are approaching is greater than anything or anyone by a long way.
If you would feel awe meeting the Queen or even the Prime Minister, what must we feel in meeting God?
Once we do approach, we are swept up in that communion/communication which is so beneficial for us.
As we contemplate God as Trinity, we understand that there is between the Three Persons an infinite love.
And we are included in that love, like logs in a raging river. Tossed about, but this is a joyful experience not a frightening one.
To be loved like that, in a way far greater than human love, is our desire, even if we don’t know it.
God knows what we want. He created us to need and want this love, and He has ever since been telling us where to come to receive it.
We may not understand everything that is said in this place, but we allow ourselves to be lifted into the experience. Enjoy the flight.
