Stephen Hawking, the distinguished scientist and researcher into ways of life and change in God's expanding universe, uses the term "Big Bang" to describe a colossal explosive happening that took place in the course of its development. The term is often seen as just the right way of summing up the impact of striking changes in circumstances. We have heard of "Big Bangs" in the worlds of finance or politics.
When Christina Rosetti, with her genius for brevity, heralded the "big bang" news of love's entry into the world, she began a hymn with a few simple words: "Love came down at Christmas".
At Pentecost, the risen Lord's entry into the church with all His life and love is striking and colourful. It would be natural to see it as a supreme moment in the story of spirituality in the world. It was indeed an unforgettable experience for the disciples. They were overwhelmed and, like any of us, were asking themselves what it all meant.
Saint Paul was thinking out the meaning of Pentecost, and the powers and gifts bestowed on the church, in his first Epistle to the Corinthians. In the last verse of Chapter 12 he kindly sums it up: "Now I will show you the best way of all" - love.
Then in Chapter 13 we have Saint Paul's famous hymn of heavenly love: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels". He dwells on the need for having the right motive - love based on the essential qualities to be observed in Christ. Very soon the reader realises that this popular chapter is a great deal more than beautiful literature. It is bound to disturb and challenge our accepting of less demanding and less careful ways of expressing love. We may be more uneasy as we read this week's Collect: "Lord, you have taught us that all our doings without love are worth nothing, for without love whoever lives is counted dead before you."
In the good Book of Common Prayer there is a helpful prayer for those troubled in conscience about lack of love or forgiveness in their lives: "Look down with pity on thy servants whose souls are full of trouble . . . that they may neither cast away their confidence in thee, nor place it anywhere but in thee." When we recall Our Lord's strong words about love: "Just as I have loved you, you must love one another", we may be tempted to give up trying. That may be the "big bang" moment that God is sending to us that we may discard the idea of being pleased with ourselves in our expression of love, and enlist upon the royal way of the King of Love.
Facing facts, we do well to accept Saint John's firm statement: "Everyone has sinned, everyone has fallen short of the beauty of God's plan". (1 John 1, verses 8 and 9) - a "Big Bang" full of honesty and hope. "If we are silly enough to refuse to admit that we are sinners, then we live in a world of illusion and truth becomes a stranger to us, but if we freely admit that we have sinned, we find God utterly reliable and straightforward . . . He forgives our sins and makes us thoroughly clean from all that is evil".
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling". W.W.