Sermon Transcript: June 19, 2011 Trinity Sunday The Rev. R. Allan McCaslin
Readings: Genesis 1:1-2:4a; Psalm 8; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; Matthew 28:16-20
Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations … teaching them everything that I have commanded you.” I speak to you in the Name of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; One God for ever and ever. Amen.
For the second year in a row now, a fox has moved into our neighborhood. I’ve been told that there is a whole family of foxes living a few blocks away, but, so far, all I have seen is the mother fox. I like to sit outside in the early morning and say my prayers, and several times this week our neighborhood fox has trotted through our yard. Sometimes she stops and watches me rather inquisitively before continuing on her journey. She really is quite beautiful. In Native American folklore, the fox is a symbol of camouflage. The fox is honored not only for its ability to meld into its surroundings and be unnoticed, but also, its ability to be seemingly invisible and yet, very much present. The fox reminds me of God: seemingly invisible, but ever-present.
Today is Trinity Sunday: the day when the Church contemplates what may be the greatest mystery of our faith; the Holy Trinity; one God revealed in three very distinct ways. When the Church calls something a mystery she is not proposing something that is so far-fetched and incomprehensible we have to call it a “mystery” so we can get out of explaining it. When the Church describes something as a mystery she means it is a truth that is so deep that we can always explore its depths even that much more. A mystery of faith is never ending and requires a choice on our part: we either choose to believe or choose not to believe. Christians believe God has revealed God’s self to us in three ways beginning with God revealing “himself” as the Creator of this world or the Father of all. Then, God became incarnate, fully human, and lived as one of us in the person of Jesus Christ, God our Redeemer. And God continues to reveal “herself” to us as our Sustainer in the person of the Holy Spirit. I suggest God as “herself” not to rile anyone, but rather, to acknowledge that Holy Scripture frequently refers to the Holy Spirit in feminine terms. Divisive gender issues aside, the fact remains that for Christians, God continues to be revealed as our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Readings: Genesis 1:1-2:4a; Psalm 8; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; Matthew 28:16-20
Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations … teaching them everything that I have commanded you.” I speak to you in the Name of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; One God for ever and ever. Amen.
For the second year in a row now, a fox has moved into our neighborhood. I’ve been told that there is a whole family of foxes living a few blocks away, but, so far, all I have seen is the mother fox. I like to sit outside in the early morning and say my prayers, and several times this week our neighborhood fox has trotted through our yard. Sometimes she stops and watches me rather inquisitively before continuing on her journey. She really is quite beautiful. In Native American folklore, the fox is a symbol of camouflage. The fox is honored not only for its ability to meld into its surroundings and be unnoticed, but also, its ability to be seemingly invisible and yet, very much present. The fox reminds me of God: seemingly invisible, but ever-present.
Today is Trinity Sunday: the day when the Church contemplates what may be the greatest mystery of our faith; the Holy Trinity; one God revealed in three very distinct ways. When the Church calls something a mystery she is not proposing something that is so far-fetched and incomprehensible we have to call it a “mystery” so we can get out of explaining it. When the Church describes something as a mystery she means it is a truth that is so deep that we can always explore its depths even that much more. A mystery of faith is never ending and requires a choice on our part: we either choose to believe or choose not to believe. Christians believe God has revealed God’s self to us in three ways beginning with God revealing “himself” as the Creator of this world or the Father of all. Then, God became incarnate, fully human, and lived as one of us in the person of Jesus Christ, God our Redeemer. And God continues to reveal “herself” to us as our Sustainer in the person of the Holy Spirit. I suggest God as “herself” not to rile anyone, but rather, to acknowledge that Holy Scripture frequently refers to the Holy Spirit in feminine terms. Divisive gender issues aside, the fact remains that for Christians, God continues to be revealed as our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
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