Sh’ma Yisraeil, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad.! These words are proclaimed every Sabbath in synagogues through the world. Sh’ma simply means hear – The Sh’ma is Deuteronomy chap 6 verse 4 translated “Hear O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one “. The next verse, quoted by Jesus in all three synoptic Gospels states, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength “. The Hebrew word for one used here is echod – a word that can be used for the singular one – yet can also be found used in the plural sense. Genesis 2:24 says, “A man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and they will become as one (echod) flesh “. What a beautiful gift we see in this relationship, mirroring the relationship between Christ and his church, as Ephesians chapter 5 expresses. This relationship, being illustrative of the Spiritual bond between Christ and His bride (the Church) therefore should be respected, as instituted by our creator and not defiled in any way. The plurality of oneness also coincides with the statement of Deuteronomy 6:5. People, being made in God’s image, having three aspects – Love God with your heart, your soul, and your strength, Yet, as God is one, we are one person. We see a reflection here of God as Trinity, as He originally expressed “Let us make man in our image “Wow – even our innate being represents a triune creator! Throughout Scripture, we see the Father as God, the Son as God, and the Holy Spirit as God. Just a few of these to look at and carry in our hearts are: Isaiah 48:12-16 Where God says “the Sovereign Lord and His Spirit have sent me “, Zechariah 12:10, written five hundred years prior to the birth of Jesus, ” They will look on me, the one they have pierced “…says the Lord, who stretches out the heavens (12:1). Luke’s recording of Jesus baptism in Luke 3:22 shows Jesus in the water, the Spirit descending in the form of a dove, and God the Father speaking from heaven. We read of the Father raising Jesus, Jesus claim He will raise himself, and the Spirit who raised Him. Acts 5 records Peter telling Ananias and Sapphira they lied to the Spirit, not to man but to God. As we contemplate this plurality of oneness reflected in our humanity, let us give glory to God for all His wonders and mysteries, and for the relationship, He offers to all. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all………………… (2 Corinthians 13:14)

 Reverend Larry Sassmann