16
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which
Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him;
but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All
authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go
therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and
teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And
remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
And
it was so.
- Trinity Sunday is not an easy on to preach on. The mystery of the Trinity is beyond our understanding. It might be remembered that there is more we DON'T know about God than what we know. What we know of God is what has been revealed to us, especially since what our senses and intellect tell us is incomplete and can be warped.
- Still the Lectionary's readings, tell us much about God. It seems that the three readings – from Genesis, from 2 Corinthians, and from Matthew – take us from one end of creation to the other... Beginning, middle, and end – Creation, life now, and 'the end of the age'
- The reading from Genesis tells us that God is in charge of the creation right from the beginning. God creates without assistance, raw materials, or struggle – unlike the creation stories from other cultures where the gods make the universe from other things or create from a struggle with other beings. In the Genesis story of creation, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep. In this nothingness, God creates by the power of His Word: Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. Nothing more needed to be done. This story says nothing about God's continued sustaining of creation, but we're safe to say that it is implied. God's word is all that was needed and is needed.
- In our second reading, Paul tells the Corinthian Church how to live in the present day by admonishing them before he closes his letter. He closes the letter with what we often call the “Apostolic Greeting.” It is more than a greeting; it is a sort of blessing. He had been taking the church in Corinth to task for their problems, most of which were internal. Their behaviour to one another was problematic and the community was coming apart. So Paul wrote to them – more than once actually – to remind them of his teaching and to encourage them to live according to the Gospel. He says Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Things had not be well or peaceful, so he encourages them to do the things that could bring peace to the community – order, listening, agreement, strive to live in peace – and ends with an assurance of the presence of God with them despite all they have endured from within and without. Paul's words hold for us in our time. We don't live in the times of the apostles, but we are the church, as the Corinthians were. What Paul recommends to the Corinthian congregation would be good advice to almost every congregation in Christ's church in our own day.
- Finally, in the third reading from Matthew's Gospel, the evangelist assures the church and the reader that Jesus has all authority and that he is with them to the end of the age. This is how Matthew ends his Gospel, with the assurance to all the churches that read his words that Jesus has received all authority over whatever exists. In him, earth and heaven, that had been so long estranged and separated, are now rejoined and the relationship restored. The disciples are sent out to proclaim that salvation has come and that the broken creation has been restored. As part of this commissioning and to encourage and comfort the disciples on their mission, Jesus assures them that he will be with them to the end of the age.
- The term, “Age” implies to us a certain length of time, like the “Age of Steam” or “the Space Age.” Here it means all time or all eternity. The church's prayers in worship reflect this. “As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.” is the English. The German says “und von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit.” The Latin has it this way: “et in saecula saeculorum.” “From eternity to eternity” or “in the ages of ages” saying that there will be no end. Christ's presence in and to the Church will never end.
- Rather than try to explain the Trinity this Sunday – as if I could! - I've attempted to say again that God's presence and power is with us no matter what. God's grace and presence will not leave us. The One who creates and sustains us, the One who leads, guides, and teaches us, the One who is beyond our understanding yet always close to us, is our Creator, Redeemer, and Advocate. Our God is as close as our own thoughts, yet is removed from our sight and our conception. Our God remains a mystery that we will have all eternity to explore and remains a loving presence in all the areas of our lives. This might be more important to how we live than hours of explanation of the Trinity.
- In thinking of the Trinity, it might be best to turn to the words of Genesis. We are told that God is one-in-three and three-in-one... And it was so.
Come, join the dance of Trinity,
before all worlds begun
the interweaving of the Three,
the Father, Spirit, Son.
The universe of space and time
did not arise by chance,
but as the Three, in love and hope,
made room within their dance.
Come, see the face of Trinity, new-born in Bethlehem;
then bloodied by a crown of thornes outside Jerusalem.
The dance of Trinity is meant for human flesh and bone;
when fear confines the dance in death, god rolls away the stone.
Come, speak aloud of Trinity, as wind and tongues of flame
set people free at Pentecost to tell the Savior's name.
We know the yoke of sin and death, our necks have worn it smooth:
got tell the world of weight and woe that we are free to move.
Within the dance of Trinity, before all words begun,
we sing the praises of the Three, the Father, Spirit, Son.
Let voices rise and interweave, by love and hope set free,
to shape in song this joy, this life: the dance of Trinity.
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