Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Readings for Trinity Sunday, June 12, 2011

Hello Everyone, Grace and Peace to all,

Every year the Sunday after Pentecost is dedicated to the theological concept of the Triune nature of God, simply called the Trinity. All Christians affirm God’s nature as being one. There is only one God. Yet God is present to us in three important ways: creator, redeemer, and sustainer. Love (for God is Love, 1 John 4:16b) that creates all, love that redeems all, and love that sustains all. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each year on this Sunday we have a different texts that reflect and inform on this nature.

Genesis 1:1-2:4a – “In the beginning God . . .” The story of creation over 6 time periods, days, which culminates in God declaring all to be good and then resting on the seventh. It is a good exercise to compare the methodical creation of this story with the messy, artistic creation of Genesis 2:4b-25. Compare, especially, the order of creation. What comes first, second, etc. Which creation story is the right one? Both. Why?

Psalm 8 – David, the psalmist, reflects on God’s creation and how small he feels within that creation. But he also realizes that God has given humanity dominion over creation. This psalm might give us something to think about when it comes to our stewardship of that creation.

2 Corinthians 13:11-13 – As Paul finishes his letter he invokes the triune God. Notice what he associates with each: Jesus is grace, God is love, and the Holy Spirit is communion. Paul wants us to be filled with grace, love, and communion – the essence of God. One other line is worthy of notice. “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” This was not men and women kissing, but men kissing men and women kissing women. And it was not lip on lip. It was more of a cheek to cheek kind of kiss. Americans today, especially in church, are more comfortable with the “Holy Handshake”.

Matthew 28:16-20 – When Jesus ascends into heaven from a mountain in Galilee he commissions the disciples to spread the good news “making disciples of all nations (not individuals?)”, baptizing, and teaching. The fourfold commission is “Go, Make Disciples, Baptize, and Teach.” The key words for Trinity Sunday is that we are to baptize in the “name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” How can we, as followers of Jesus, go and make disciples? How do we teach others? How do we baptize? Who is allowed to baptize? Most denominations think only priests, pastors, bishops, etc. are allowed to do baptisms, but I am not sure that that is supported by scripture.

May the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you.

1 comment:

  1. Greetings Pastor Gary Taylor

    On the subject of the Trinity,
    I recommend this video:
    The Human Jesus

    Take a couple of hours to watch it; and prayerfully it will aid you to reconsider "The Trinity"

    Yours In Messiah
    Adam Pastor

    ReplyDelete