May 26, 2024
TRINITY SUNDAY
The First Sunday after Pentecost - May 26, 2024
The Rev. R. Allan McCaslin
Readings: Isaiah 6:1-8; Psalm 29; Romans 8:12-17; John 3:1-17
From the Prophet Isaiah, “… I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’” I speak to you in the Name of the Holy and Blessed Trinity; One God in Three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Today is Trinity Sunday: The day when the Church re-affirms her belief that God has revealed God’s own self to this world in three distinct ways – or in three persons as many of our hymns and Christian teaching tends to describe God. The Trinity is one of the most perplexing dogmas of the Christian faith because speaking of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit suggests a polytheism that is not only confusing, but contrary to Christian and Jewish teaching. See, we do not worship three Gods, but rather, one and the same God revealed as our Creator, our Redeemer, and our Sustainer. One God revealed for the purpose of drawing all humanity into a deeper relationship with God and each other so that, as our Gospel lesson says so well, all might be saved – even you and me.
Now, because the Triune Nature of God is difficult to explain let alone comprehend, the church offers that it is a “holy mystery”. And that is not a cop out or a way to avoid wrestling with beliefs like the Holy Trinity. See, when the church speaks of a holy mystery, she is not speaking about a “who-done-it” novel where we try to solve a crime, or discover some secret code. No. A holy mystery is a truth that is so deep it can and must always be explored that much further because holy mysteries are never ending. They continue to engage, trouble, and amaze our minds as they draw us into a deeper understanding of God’s divine role and place in our lives. And that role and place begs the question, “What difference does faith in the Holy Trinity really make in this world and our daily lives today?” This morning’s scripture lessons offer some insight into that very question as well as timely answers.
Today’s Old Testament reading describes an encounter with God that blows Isaiah’s mind. God’s incredible glory appears in the Temple, and it is magnificent! Angels are buzzing around crying out “holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts” – and some scholars suggest that the angel’s crying out, “holy” three times is an affirmation of the Holy Trinity. But I am not sure Isaiah was thinking about theology in that moment. Afterall, the whole temple was trembling and shaking as the majesty of God, enshrouded by the smoke of incense, filled the entire space. Then something far more mind blowing happened: This almighty and powerful God – the creator of all that is and ever will be; our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer asks, “Whom shall I send and who will go for us?” I find that to be an odd question. Shouldn’t an omniscient and all-powerful God already know the answer? Is this passage from Isaiah suggesting God doesn’t know what to do?
A common question asked by people today even people of faith is, “Why doesn’t God intervene and do something to change this world? Why doesn’t God just eliminate human anguish and suffering? Why does God allow people to starve to death or why does God put up with the homelessness, hatred, and racism, so prevalent in this modern day?” I am sure some of you have asked those questions. I know I have. I have wondered if God is so powerful, loving, wise, and desirous of peace and unity, then why doesn’t God just do it! Our reading from Isaiah suggests that in spite of all God’s splendor and majesty; in spite of God’s power and might; God doesn’t know what to do. And therein lies a dilemma: The Holy Trinity might be an intriguing mystery to explore, but if it can’t deliver us from the mess we’ve created in society, what difference does it make? The Bible is filled with stories of God’s intervention throughout human history often through miraculous signs and wonders, but what about today? Why doesn’t God do something? Well, let’s probe today’s scripture readings a little more.
Nicodemus has listened to Jesus for quite some time. He likes what he hears and yet, he wonders how can these things be? In today’s reading from the Gospel according to John, "Nick at Night" as I like to call him, learns that God’s kingdom requires action. “You must be born again,” that is, you must allow God’s Spirit to change you from within the very depths of your being in order to be in a relationship with God. And friends, we must grasp that this relationship with God, that is, our salvation is never an ending unto itself. Christianity is not simply about “me and Jesus.” Our faith, as Nicodemus learned, requires active engagement in this world. As Isaiah affirms, God calls us to be God’s life-transforming presence in this world. “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” It’s not that God doesn’t know the answer. It’s not that God can’t act or doesn’t know what to do. God is waiting for our response. God is waiting for us to commit our lives to God’s ways and values, and make them our ways and values every day! Only then will this world be changed.
When asked why God doesn’t intervene to fix the problems of this world, Pope Benedict, XVI, replied “If man’s heart is not good, then nothing else can turn out good either”[1]. In other words, God can do all sorts of things, but unless we allow God to change us – change how we think, act and choose to live – God’s action, no matter how inspiring that action may be, will someday be forgotten.
The Late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, took our responsibility to allow and invite God to change us even further. Reflecting on this particular reading from Isaiah, Desmond said (and I quote), “This omnipotent one who created all there is without our help, forever waits and waits – waits for us to become God’s partners, God’s collaborators, to help God accomplish God’s purposes.[2]” Without our collaboration and commitment – without our response “Here am I; send me” - God is content to wait. It is up to us to start making a difference in this world.
You know, when I read this passage from Isaiah, I hear God begging us to act. “Help me. Help me transform this world. Help me transform the hatreds – all the ‘isms’ and ‘phobias’ that plague society and the world - by speaking up when something is unjust or unfair. Help me transform poverty and disease by providing food and medical care for those in need. Help me clothe the naked and homeless by providing them clothing and shelter. Help me transform this world so that there will be more compassion, more gentleness, more caring, more goodness, more laughter, more sharing. Help me!”[3]
Why doesn’t God do something? Friends, God wants to “turn the various wildernesses of our world into glorious gardens”[4] but not without us. The Holy Trinity, the creator of all that is and ever will be, is waiting for God’s people, waiting for you and me to act: to step out of the shadows like Nicodemus and grasp that we cannot be disciples from a distance; God is waiting for us to stand up and, as St. Paul says in our reading from Romans, as adopted children of God, be God’s transforming and healing presence is this world; God is waiting for us to answer God’s plea.
Friends, God asks us this morning, “Who will help me transform this community of Valle Crucis? Who will help me transform this state, this nation, and this world?” so that one day all will know they belong in one family forever: a family created by God, our father, redeemed by God, the Son, and sustained by God, the Holy Spirit. This is the life-giving and life-changing challenge that faith in this Holy Trinity should inspire in us and transform our hearts. But in order for this faith to have any meaning and impact in this 21st century; for this faith to unfold in our own midst today; we must hear God’s plea “Whom shall I send?” Who will help me? And then with every ounce of our being, stand up and proclaim, “Here am I: send me!” May God help us so to do. Amen.
[1] Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth (1), Doubleday, NY, NY, 2007
[2] Archbishop Desmond Tutu. School of Theology Address. The University of the South, Sewanee, TN May 13, 2008.
[3] Ibid. My personal paraphrase of Abp Tutu’s remarks.
[4] Ibid.