Copernicus was the courageous scholar who first who suggested that the sun and not earth was at the centre. This would be proved by Galileo although it was only recognised after his death.
As human beings we tend towards worship. Unfortunately we start off worshipping the "unholy trinity" of "me, myself and I." This is particularly visible in two-year-olds, but is actually true throughout our lives.
Paul reminds us that the unholy trinity is selfish, sensual and desirous of only that which gratifies self. This unbridled pursuit of the enthronement and pleasure of self can only lead to chaos, struggle and pain because what I want for me doesn't fit in with what you want for you. When we are all worshipping our unholy trinity there is no hope for life and peace and no room for the one true God.
The unholy trinity is also not satisfied by God's law, because God's law points us toward Him and towards sacrificial love for community. When we have "self" on the throne, sacrifice is not high on the priority list.
So, this is our predicament, from birth we are geared toward satisfying our needs. Babies cry when they are hungry, toddlers tantrum to get their way, teens pout and rebel when they are given boundaries, and adults connive and manipulate to feather their own nests. This is bad news for society.
When we turn to the Holy Trinity, we connect to pure love and ultimate goodness. When we understand that all is about Him and not about us, we have a Copernican shift: The Son and not the self is at the centre, and we can find life and peace.
It's quite a relief!!
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
