A Trinity Sunday
June 4, 2023
Genesis 1:1-2:4a
Psalm 8
2 Corinthians 13:11-13
Matthew 28:16-20
Homily by the Rev. Catherine W. Swann
Trinity Sunday!
This is the only Sunday in the entire calendar of the Church which is set aside to recognize a doctrine of the Church. It is a doctrine that “defines” the ONE God - in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! This doctrine was not established until the forth century AD. It took many theologians years trying to figure it out through strong arguments/disagreements over a number of councils... the Councils of Nicea in 325 AD and then Constantinople in 381 AD being most noteworthy.
Yet the Trinity remains a mystery. God, the Creator/ Father, has been revealed to humankind through nature, yet in the mystery of creation - though science has discovered many facts and answers - there is still much to be discovered...and it often seems that in discovery, more questions are raised.
Jesus, the Son, we know and believe as “the Word of God”, who came to us that we might know the LOVE that is God - self-emptying, self-giving, and longing for a relationship with the Father’s creation -including you and me.
What Jesus taught, and has been repeated through many generations of believers, along with the story of his death and resurrection, encourages us to be a part of the loving and giving family of God - who welcomes us into relationship with him, but will never force us.
The third “person” of the Trinity is the Advocate - the Holy Spirit of God; the Spirit of Love which binds us together in relationship with the Triune God. A Spirit, unseen, but can be felt with the senses - inward and outward - and can cause us to move whether it is physical movement on our part - or spiritual - This Spirit is unseen, but perceivable by result.
Herbert O’Driscoll once said:
“We do not think about the Trinity so much as we experience it. Only then do we understand. And here is the paradox, that we understand the Trinity most when we realize that we do not understand.”1“Ultimately, the Trinity is not something that can be explained, but rather a mystery to be cherished.
Only God knows God. God’s self is incomprehensible. (2)
We only know what God chooses to reveal to us. Jesus Christ seems to be the primary revelation of God. Yet even then, we struggle to find words to explain God. So, I will move on to our lessons for today...
The reading from Genesis is significant today, first: because it is a poem about the creation. It was probably written about the time of Israel‘s exile. Who among us has not marveled at God’s creation? Not only the beauty of it, but also how everything has a purpose: large and small are provided for - in nourishment, in habitat, even in offering something for others!
Additionally significant, is God s creation of humankind - in God s words “ in our image, according to our likeness” [Gen 1:26], (an insinuation of God s complexity of being).
We see God s favor of humankind in God s gift of dominion over the animals that is, responsibility to care for them. Being made in God s image, we are responsible to care for all of God s creation. Just as God cares for and loves us, we are to care for and love one another.
Our Gospel lesson, which consists of the very last 5 verses of the book of Matthew, is known to many as “ The Great Commission” . This is the 2nd and last appearance of the risen Jesus in this Gospel - the first being Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary immediately after they discovered the empty tomb. At that time the angel who greeted them at the tomb told the women:
“go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you.” (3)
As the two women were going to find the disciples, Jesus appeared suddenly to them and gave them
the same message. The women apparently delivered the message, for the 11 disciples went to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them to go. This seems abrupt - certainly more so than the other Gospels and the Book of Acts seem to imply (with their multiple sightings of the risen Jesus) - but remember, the women and disciples were in Jerusalem...it was long way to Galilee.
The eleven disciples proceeded on the report of the women. The eleven had not seen the risen Lord; they had not even seen the angel! Can you imagine the conversations, the questions, they had on the way to Galilee? But when they got to the designated mountain (wedo not know the where of the mountain other than in Galilee), Jesus was there waiting for them! We are told the disciples worshiped him; but some doubted .
Do you remember the story of Jesus and the disciples in the boat on the Sea of Galilee?
Jesus had fallen asleep. The winds came up and tossed the boat, which was taking on water, and the disciples called out saying Lord, wake up, save us, we are perishing!
Jesus replied: Why are you afraid, you of little faith? (4)
And the story after the feeding of the 5,000 Jesus sent the disciples to the other side of the Sea and after they left shore, Jesus went to a mountain to pray. Again a wind came up and tossed the disciples boat around (it was about ½ way across to the other side). Jesus came to them walking on the water. Peter saw him and thought Jesus was a ghost. Jesus assured them it was he, and told them not to be afraid. Peter doubted and tested Jesus asking him to make it so Peter could walk on the water... Jesus encouraged Peter to come, and Peter stepped out of the boat. But when he sensed the wind coming up again, Peter was frightened, and began to sink. Jesus said, You of little faith, why did you doubt. (4)
[Third Story] When the disciples were unable to cast out demons from a boy with epilepsy, Jesus cured him. The disciples asked why they were not able to do it. Jesus said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." (5)
So here at the end of Matthew s Gospel, Jesus has known all along of the disciples’ “little faith” .
But he also knows they have some faith - after all, they did come to Galilee to see for themselves whether the women were reliable in their reporting!
Jesus then commissions the disciples to go out not just in Jerusalem, (or just to the Jews) not even just in Galilee, (gentile territory!) but into all the world! to make disciples baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Last Sunday Deb led those who attended services at Trinity & St. Mary s in renewing their own baptismal vows. In our baptism, we become disciples of Christ. We promise, among other things:
To continue in the apostles teaching and fellowship in the breaking of bread and in the prayers;
To proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ;
To seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving [our] neighbor as ourselves.
To strive for justice and peace among all people,
and respect the dignity of every human being. (6)
These are BIG promises! And serious ones!
Jesus sent those 11 disciples out - even though they had little faith .
I was a child of 3 months when I was baptized; my parents and Godparents made these promises for me... but they kept their promise: I was taken to church; and later I made the promises for myself when confirmed by the Bishop. And slowly, step by step, I have gradually lived into them. . . I slip up, but I keep trying to live into all those promises.
I imagine those 11 disciples had no idea HOW they would do what Jesus was commissioning them to do. Yet, with whatever doubts they had, filled with the Holy Spirit, they stepped up and began to spread the Good News; teaching others, sharing in fellowship and in Eucharist. They taught what they experienced of Christ, showing others the truth of Christ, the way of Christ, teaching Christ as the Revealer of the Father s abundant love and Redeemer of all.
The disciples down the generations have taught others how to recognize the Holy Spirit at work in their own lives and in the lives of those around them - recognizing the image of God present in friend and stranger.
Yes, the commission is a big ask, but they knew, and we know today, we don’t do it alone.
Jesus reminded his disciples: “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
All of us, even with our doubts and questions, can trust in that promise; we are not alone as we struggle to keep our promises.
Deb reminded you last week of the many things you do in the power of the Holy Spirit working as a community in relationship with the love of God. If you thought, “ but how can I do that because I m not available. . .” , consider how you can encourage a friend to pray for you, or with you for another; write notes, make phone calls to cheer others; teach a child God s love - by your actions and your words; give a friend a hug of support in times of stress or despair - and more if necessary & possible. Share God s love with a stranger - sometimes a smile is just what they need.
1 Quoted in Synthesis, Trinity Sunday, Year A, [vol. 34, #6] (Boyds, MD, PNMSI Publishing, c. 2019), p.4
2 Ibid. [except not from Herbert O Driscoll/ no attribution, but probably Elizabeth Anders, M.A.; ed. Postscript ] p.4
3 Matthew 29:7
4 Matthew 8:24-26
4 Matthew 14:22-31
5 Matthew 17:20
6 Book of Common Prayer, (New York, Church Hymnal Corp., 1979) p. 304-305