June 4, 2023 Trinity Sunday The text is Matthew 28:16-20.

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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.”

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May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

Grace, mercy, and peace are yours from God the Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

I have a confession to make; one of the great fears I have is that at some point someone will ask to me for the definitive explanation of the nature of the Triune God.  It’s not so much that I’m troubled by having to describe the Trinity, but the concern is in attempting to explaining how it’s possible that God exists in Three Person, yet is always One.  This is simply one of those things about our faith that we accept as true, whether or not our human minds are capable of comprehending how this is possible.  This fundamental principle of Christian theology bears some further discussion.  The Trinity is referred to as the “Three-In-One”, “One God in three Persons”, and from a Lutheran perspective, the “Triune God”. 

We hold that God exists as three, separate, distinct elements; One God, three Persons. In a moment we will confess our faith in these three entities using the words of the Apostles’ Creed.

I believe in God, the Father almighty; I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord; I believe in the Holy Spirit.   The divine essence of God is manifested in three separate Persons.  Each of the Three-in-One of the Trinity; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are equal in all attributes.  There was never a time when all three did not exist, and all are eternal.  The three distinct Persons of the Trinity are separate; the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is not the Father.  Yet separately or together, each is God.  Three distinct Persons, equal in their divine nature.  Like I said, relatively straightforward to describe, quite a bit more challenging to fully understand.  How can we possibly comprehend the transcendent nature of God, how is anyone able to grasp the awe and wonder of our Creator, Savior, and Comforter?  Suffice it to say, the concept of the Holy Trinity at its core is that our God is with us, always. 

And with the concept of the Trinity in mind we hear the words that Jesus spoke to the disciples after they traveled to Galilee; to the mountaintop meeting with Jesus shortly after he appeared to Mary at the empty tomb.  He leaves no doubt that he is truly as One with God; “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” .  The risen Jesus confirms that he speaks as the Son of God, and that everything he has taught is to be obeyed as though his commandments came from the Father; because, as a Person of the Trinity, they have.  What does Jesus then command his apostles to do?  To “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”.  The disciples are ordered to further Jesus’ teaching and baptize everyone they encounter; the Gospel must be preached to all the world.

This directive from Jesus to his disciples has come to be known as The Great Commission; they have been instructed to bring the Good News of God, the resurrection of Jesus’ to the wider world.  And in 50 days Jesus will come again to impart to them the Holy Spirit; to provide for them the ability they will need to perform their mission and continue Jesus’ ministry.  God’s miracle, Jesus’ resurrection, and the Holy Spirit’s help and guidance; no wonder Jesus tells them to teach and baptize in the name of the Trinity!  He has ben granted authority from God the Father to command the apostles to continue Jesus’ ministry, and they do so with the real presence of the Three-In-One.  

And what if everything we do would be done in the name of God, Jesus, and Spirit?  We gather together in worship and our prayers are offered to the Trinity.  We ask the blessing of the Triune God when we pray for those in need.  When our babies are baptized these words are used; “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”.  If the Trinity holds such great importance for us in the life of the church, shouldn’t we act outside our walls acknowledging that the Three Persons of God are present with us always?  This morning we heard Jesus assure the disciples, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

What if every word we say, every action we take, we do so with the awareness that our Trinitarian God is right there with us?  Would we demean another if God the Father were standing next to the one we intended to humiliate?  What are the odds we would withhold food, clothing or shelter from someone in need if Jesus was among them as they approached us in their poverty?  Could we even consider allowing another to harm, abuse, or inflict pain on someone if we noticed that the Holy Spirit was in the room?

If, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we speak and act in full awareness that the Trinity is always with us, we would be unable to demean, deny, or allow harm to befall any of God’s children.  We would feel the presence of God and our words and behavior would inevitably prompt us to emulate Christ’s example.  We would be quick to support and encourage others rather than voice demeaning words.  We would rush to feed, clothe, or shelter our fellow beings, rather than deny them these basic necessities that all God’s children are entitled to.  We would be the first ones to intervene, to come to the aid of one in dire circumstances at the hands of an abuser, rather than allow harm to be inflicted upon one of God’s beloved.

What if everything we said and did was done “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”?  If this were the manner in which we conducted ourselves, it might then be said of us that we have learned the teachings that Jesus commanded the disciples to bring to the world.  That we have been baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection.  That we have truly been made disciples of Jesus.

And we will speak and act as disciples, knowing that Jesus is with us always; there is no need to wait until “the end of the age”.  And may Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit bless us now and always.  Amen. 

God is Good, all the time.  All the time, God is Good.  Amen.