Psalm: Psalm 8
Old Testament: Genesis 1:1-2:4a
Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20
Epistle: 2 Corinthians 13:11-13
Today is Trinity Sunday, when the Church traditionally
celebrates the doctrine of the Trinity. It actually seems like a strange idea to
celebrate a doctrine in the life of the Church since most of the holidays and
celebrations revolve around the life of Christ. I am no expert on the Christian
Calendar, but I don’t think there is another Sunday dedicated purely to a
doctrine. However, this doctrine, and perhaps Jesus’ divine and human nature, is
one of the hardest to understand. Doctrines like the Trinity are the reason the
Church has creeds at all. The creeds all developed out of controversy as the Church
tried to explain and proclaim what it believed. I thought this week it would be
helpful to review the text of the Nicene Creed and the let the doctrine just
speak for itself. But reading the Scriptures this week (for example, the
baptismal creed in Matthew 28:19), does show that the idea of the Trinity is
present in Scripture.
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker
of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten
Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of
Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with
the Father, by whom all things were made.
Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from
heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made
man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was
buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and
ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall
come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall
have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and
Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]; who with the Father
and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic
Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the
resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
For a little humor and also to show the difficulties
in explaining the trinity here is a video clip.
Paul’s closing of his second letter to the Corinthian
people, the reading from 2 Corinthians today, helps us glimpse some of the
truths of this mystifying doctrine. So I
leave you with the words of Paul to begin your reflection this week on the
doctrine of the Trinity; “May the grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you
all.”
Grace and Peace.
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