“God is with Us: One in Three”
Krista’s Reflection on Trinity Sunday, June 4, 2023
Based on Genesis 1:1-2:4a and Matthew 28:16-20
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Barasheet, bara Elohim, ha-shamaim et ha-eretz.
(for you Bible study folks, that’s the original Hebrew!)
God created the heavens and the earth.
God created us.
Then thousands of years later, after much turmoil, war and distress, God sent Jesus to the earth, the Word made flesh to reconcile and make all things new.
But after Jesus was crucified, died, and resurrected, he had to return to the Father, to receive his full glory. As he was leaving, Jesus promised his disciples, he would not leave them comfortless.
At Pentecost last week, God sent the Holy Spirit, (the Greek term is “the Paraclete” meaning the Advocate, Counsellor, or Helper). The Holy Spirit comes to guide and comfort us, so we can fulfill Christ’s mission on earth.
Jesus described the Spirit in this way:
“The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (John 6:63). And “when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13).
1. God created.
2. Jesus reconciled and made new.
3. The Spirit comforts and guides us into all truth.
How the Trinity Relates to Us
This is Trinity Sunday.
We could get lost in deep theological speculations and argue over the meaning of God in three persons – as the church has argued for millennia (and even split up a few times!).
Instead let’s ask ourselves these questions:
1. Who is God to us?
2. How do we know God is with us?
3. What is God doing in our lives and the world today? (Wait a second – these are just as deep and puzzling!)
Hold these thoughts and let me share a story instead.
STORY – The Deck and the Bunny
Yesterday it was very hot. But I decided to go outside into the backyard and spend a few moments of peace.
Just then there was an awful racket as the friend we hired to help us fix our deck.
My husband asked me to come over and consult on the colour they had chosen.
Unfortunately they had already painted a part of it a very bright red stain. I was horrified and found myself getting quite upset. So much for peace!
I went inside to cool down, and when I was sufficiently calm (and I said a little prayer for God to forgive me for cursing).
Then I went back outside to give some guidance as to what to do.
Just then, I spotted out of the corner of my eye across our pool – which was also being cleaned at the same time – a tiny animal which looked like a little otter desperately trying to swim across it.
I jumped up to see what it was, and as I got closer I saw that it was a baby bunny. His head was barely surfacing the water, and somehow this little bunny was doing the doggie paddle and hadn’t yet drowned.
I yelled for Steve to find me the net quick, and I swooped him up out of the water. As I swooped it up it was so tired or shocked it froze and its arms and legs and body just lay defeated in the net.
As you can imagine, my new project was – how to save this bunny and take care of it. All my other priorities went out the window – sermon? What sermon? Deck? What deck?
I went in to fetch a small dish towel, and gently scooped him out of the net and held him in my arms.
(Of course it was love at first sight!)
God’s little creatures delight my soul. I watch them in the backyard, the birds pecking on the ground and swooping over me, the
sound of their calls in the morning which gently wake me up, the little critters scrounging for food, even the raccoons I leave a little heap of organics for them to sort through.
So this little bunny was either asleep or pretending to sleep, but still alive, because he was breathing fast.
As I walked around with him, he would open one eye on occasion just to keep an eye on what I was doing.
I spoke lovingly to him, “oh, you have had quite an ordeal, haven’t you?! Everything is going to be OK. You are going to be OK.” Then Steve gave me some practical advice which I didn’t want to hear:
1. You can’t touch him.
2. You can’t keep him.
3. You have to let him go.
He was right of course!
So I laid the little fellow under a baby evergreen I called Chip in the backyard and put a buttercup under his nose. I thought if he smelled something natural he might wake up and get hungry.
I walked away, but did I leave him alone? Of course not! I checked on him regularly and then went inside to get some work done.
Later when my daughter and her friend went outside to go swimming, I told them what had happened, and they both looked horrified and shocked about the bunny – where is he?!!
So I showed them, and much to my delight, the dish towel lay empty on the ground under the tree.
Where is God?
So where was God in this story?
God was there, in the backyard where I found sanctuary with the birds and trees…
God as Creator.
God was there when we were looking for someone to help us with yard maintenance and fixing our deck. – Steve had suddenly thought of him and he happened to be looking for work.
God as Jesus, love your neighbour.
God was there when I cursed at the colour red and went inside to calm down and said a prayer – and the Spirit filled me with the presence of mind to go back out and try again.
God as the Spirit, peace be upon you.
God was there in the corner of my eye when I spotted the little bunny nearly drowning, to go and fish him out just in time, and cradle him in my arms.
God as Mother/Comforter.
And God was there in my husband, telling the truth even when it’s hard – making sure we don’t get into too much trouble. In other words, put the bunny back so his mother can find him.
God as Father/protector, and Spirit of truth even when it’s hard. Do you see how God is one in three? No? Well, we can come close!
The truth is, God is with us. Everywhere we go. In all
circumstances of our lives. The good, the bad and the ugly (don’t use that to describe the Trinity!)
Scripture
In the Scripture today, GOD is so complex that even God calls himself “US” in Genesis.
“Then God said, “Let US make human beings in OUR image, to be like US… So God created human beings in HIS own image. In the image of GOD he created them: male and female he created them.” (Gen 1:26-27)
This is from the first creation account in Genesis – not Adam and Eve. In this story God creates humankind all at once, both male and female, ALL in God’s image (and all the women can say, Amen!).
So, God is not alone, either.
God is not just ONE, but ONE in THREE:
1. God the Mother/Father/Creator
2. Jesus the Word made flesh/Savior/Redeemer
3. and the Holy Spirit/the Comforter/Advocate/Guide and Friend. God, the Trinity!
God created us to be united with God in all God’s forms, with all God’s creatures, and with each other, so that we could love God, and love one another, and be one with God forever.
Example 2 – Regional Church/World:
I also see God at work in the church, and in the United Church of Canada: at last week’s regional meeting, we learned about three community ministries at
1. Regent Park
2. Jane and Finch
3. Perth and Davenport
These ministries do not have a church building, but they minister to local people and go out into the community to meet the spiritual,
emotional and mental needs of people who are struggling, on the street or just having trouble making ends meet.
We heard stories of hope, gratitude, laughter, and tears. These communities are truly a family and God is at work in the Spirit through those who minister to them, and those who show up every day. God the Mother/Father protects and provides for us.
Christ teaches us to love one another and uplift those in need. The Spirit empowers us do the work of the church in the world.
Final Commission – Meditation
Finally, we hear what the Scriptures say about God, what Jesus says to us about God, what God’s Creation says to us about God, and what we are saying to each other about God.
But let us take a moment to hear the voice of God Jesus promised to us in the Spirit at Pentecost – God is with us now
Jesus Message:
You are not alone.
You are in my Father as I am in you, and you are in me. I give you what you need.
Think of me. Remember me.
I will teach you all things in the Spirit.
I will be with you always, even to the ends of the age.
Let us remember then:
God is with us. One in three.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.
Amen.