Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Our first lesson is a vision of heaven seen and described by Isaiah.  In this vision we see God sitting on the throne of heaven surrounded by Seraphs.  His train fills the temple and the angels sing “Holy, Holy, Holy,” as they fly around his throne   The voice of the Lord asks, “Who will go for us?  Whom shall I send?”  It is the same question he asks us today, “Who will go for me?  Who will present me to the world?”

That is the charge given to each baptized person.  We are charged to follow Jesus and to present God to the world.  But we can only do that through the power of the Holy Spirit.  This morning we will have the joy of adopting Clarissa Elise Garza into the household of God through baptism.  And as part of that ceremony, we will affirm our belief in God through the words of the Apostle’s Creed.  In that creed, each of us affirms, “I believe in God the Father.  I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son.”  And finally,  “I believe in the Holy Spirit.”   It is the creed in which we state our personal belief in this triune God, the Holy Trinity.  

That is what today is about, acknowledging the three parts of this Trinitarian God.  God has called us into existence and reveals himself on a daily basis if we just look for it.  Yesterday might well be an example of how He reveals himself.  While Sam was working in the yard yesterday, I went out and sat on the porch.  The sun was shining, and air was fresh and clear and there was a mockingbird singing his heart out in the tree across the street.  Then as the sun was setting, there was a gorgeous pinkish red and golden glow cast upon a facade of clouds in the north and east, a crowning glory for the day.  It was is if He was reminding us that he is the master musician and artist, giving song where he will and a glorious canvas for all to see.  

Later last night, a thunderstorm raged with all the fury it could muster in thunder and lightning, even hail and wind in places.  And even in the thunderstorm, God reminds us of our baptism and that ultimately He is in charge. Teach Clarissa* to look for God in the song of a bird, in the beauty of the sky and even in the power of the storm.  For God creates all things: the bird, the sky, the baby and even the storm, and He holds it all in the palm of His hand. *your children and grandchildren

Our second lesson, Paul’s letter to the Romans, tells us:  “All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”  We are all children, created by God, in His very image, and we are given this earth as a gift, to use, to enjoy and to take care of.  “When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God and heirs of God along with Christ himself.”  He gives us a Spirit not to fall back into fear, but a Spirit of adoption.  

Oh, yes, there is that piece about “suffering with him” so that we may be glorified with him.  This earth that we have inherited is not perfect.  Fallen humankind occupies it, so there is going to be strife even for the children of God.  And that is when we cry out, “Abba! Father!” and our spirit connects with His and we are drawn in and comforted.

Today is Trinity Sunday.  Over the years, there has been a lot of time and energy spent trying to understand and to explain the Trinity.   Some say it’s like a three leaf clover.  Others will tell you it is like the three states of water – steam, liquid, and ice.  Someone might tell you it's like the 3 parts of the apple, or the sun producing light and heat.  Time after time people look for new ways to describe it.   Ways that will be more accurate, more understandable than what has been said before.  But as an idea, a concept, it is a little difficult to get a handle on it - because after all, we are trying to describe God.  That’s one thing about God - He will not be placed in a box so that we can take him out and examine him when we want.  He’s hard to describe.

One of the better things I’ve heard, is that the Trinity is about relationship.  What is important is the relationship that flows between the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  In the Holy Trinity, there is a community of mutual love that is not only an example for us, but it reaches out into our lives to empower us to be able to love others more perfectly.  It’s easy for us to understand a father and son, but the Holy Spirit is more difficult.

It’s easier to say that in the Trinity, we have the three necessary ingredients for human kind – 

Creator (the one who creates all things and adopts us as his own); 

Redeemer (the one who redeems the world and rescues us from the ravages of sin); 

and Sustainer (the one who is with us to the end, to guide and direct us in all things).  

Our God is call a Trinity, because the God of the universe, who will always remain as the ‘divine mystery,’ was revealed to us through the flesh of the Son, who is God’s tie to created humanity, and He continues to be revealed through the Holy Spirit, who works in us and through us.  That Holy Spirit always points the way to Jesus, and Jesus always points the way to God.  

There are two scriptures that place the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in a single phrase.  One of them, Matthew 28 tells us to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  That is exactly what we are going to do today.  I would invite the parents and God parents to come forward and bring Clarissa at this time.