Today is Trinity Sunday. It always comes the Sunday after Pentecost, the day we celebrate the Holy Spirit. We are straight on who God the father is, we've always been straight on who Jesus is, and we've brought some attention on the Holy Spirit. So now we are ready to bring the three together into one, the one in three and three in one. Wha...? How does that makes sense?
People struggle with Trinitarianism. I think it is because it is a doctrine, and we tend to try to deal with it with our heads. But it is a mystery, and mysteries belong in the heart. We are uncomfortable with mysteries because we can't reach out and touch them, but sometimes metaphors are helpful. Augustine of Hippo had one about a tree that is roots, trunk, and branches. Then there's one about three streams of water coming together. As I was thinking about this today I came up with a bus with God the father as the driver, Jesus as a passenger who got off for awhile and hopped back on, and Holy Spirit as the attendant who is constantly on and off. So, whatever is helpful to you, that is what metaphors are for.
Sermons are where we get our most helpful information on Trinity Sunday. Today's advanced the idea of the Trinity as Emmanuel: God with us. How very true! As Christians we can readily relate to Jesus because after all, he lived among us, and experienced the same frustrations and joys that we experienced. But Jesus as a historical figure isn't who dwells in our hearts. In our hearts it is the Living Christ, who was and is and will be forever. And who makes that possible? Why little Holy Spirit, who stays in the shadows and comes to us as the wind, the breath, the peace. God the father who created us is vast. But as the Trinity, God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, God IS Emmanuel: God With US.
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