Genesis 1.1 – 2.4a
Psalm
8 2 Corinthians 13.11-13
Matthew 28.16-20
Today we celebrate Trinity Sunday. If you think you understand and can explain
the Trinity then you do not understand the Trinity.
However I do not
understand all the workings of my car and yet I trusted my life to its workings
to get me here this morning.
Trinity Sunday was traditionally the one Sunday when the Curate was asked to preach, or a Visiting Preacher would be drafted in.
Because once you have
exhausted all the many and various metaphors, what is left to say?
Thankfully, through the
work of contemporary Biblical Scholars like Tom Wright and Paula Gooder, among others, the
Trinity has gained a fresh understanding and place of importance.
It can no longer be
dismissed as somebody once said, as a second century sermon illustration that
has passed its usefulness.
Acceptance of the Trinity
is a distinctive mark of orthodox Christianity.
It is what sets us apart
from Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons or Christadelphians to name but three.
Moreover, Richard Rohr’s
book, published recently, ‘The Divine Dance’ has invited us once more to
explore the multi-layered depths of Trinitarian theology.
Rohr, a Franciscan draws deeply on the Orthodox concept of perichoresis. Dancing in a circle.
He invites the reader to
contemplate Rublev’s famous icon, the Hospitality of Abraham that recalls the
story of three strange visitors to Abraham in Genesis 18. Many scholars have taken the three visitors
as being the Holy Trinity manifest in human form.
In Rublev’s icon there is
a space in the front of the seated figures, this, argues Rublev, is the space
for ‘the other.’
For Rohr the Trinity is a
divine community of reciprocal love with creativity as the naturally out-flowing
dynamic.
This is evidenced in the
passage we heard from Genesis.
Here where we have the
dynamic of the Trinity, Father as creator, Jesus as the Word, spoken out (think
of John’s prologue, ‘in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God), and the Spirit brooding over the waters. Note also the plural – let us make man in our
image.
Then the creation of
humankind as male and female, representing the community of reciprocal love out
of which creativity is the natural out-flowing dynamic.
The one cannot love – the
lover must have a beloved for that love to flourish and grow. The creative
dynamic then flows out of this lover and beloved as the beloved reciprocates
and becomes lover to the beloved. It flows, moves shifts and dances.
(Read the Song of Solomon
for a wonderful expression of the lover and the beloved)
Although the word Trinity
does not appear in Scripture, it is there in both Old and New Testament in
various forms.
We have seen how it
appears right at the very beginning of our Scriptures, as the creative dynamic
of reciprocal love between Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
From our passages at the
close of Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, we have what has become a
very familiar phrase, often used to close a gathering of Christians.
May
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of
the Holy Spirit be with us all.
Paul's Letter to the
Corinthians was written around 55 AD and suggests from the very earliest times a
Trinitarian frame of reference.
From our Gospel another
well known passage – 'The Great Commission' with an injunction to baptize all
nations in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Some scholars argue that this
Trinitarian baptismal formula is a later Church interpolation as the Doctrine
of the Trinity was not ratified in the Church until the 3rd century.
That may well be the case,
however, what is striking about this passage is the worship of Jesus by the
disciples who had grown up with a strong belief that worship belonged only to
God.
Admittedly, here we have people
who are in two minds about this, which is what it means by ‘some doubted.’ Nevertheless, we are told that they
worshiped Jesus, which is quite extraordinary that they should do this.
Now this may all be very
fascinating and interesting. However, what difference does this all mean to us
today as God’s people?
Let me take you back to
perichoresis, the Divine Dance of reciprocal love, God as community.
If there is one aspect
that stands our clearly from the accounts of the first Christians, it is that
they formed a community. A community of reciprocal love where slaves worshiped
with masters, the poor with the wealthy, men and woman as equals.
‘For all are one in Christ
Jesus.’
This was not easy and many
of the Letters are seeking to address issues that arose out of this co-mingling
of all strata’s of society.
Since the term was first coined
around 2004, many ‘Fresh Expressions of Church’ have focused around a
rediscovery of what it means to be community.
Very often around food and eating together – the Messy Church phenomenon is a prime example.
Very often around food and eating together – the Messy Church phenomenon is a prime example.
As is Connect 2 that meets
at St Anne’s School at 5pm every Sunday with worship, Bible teaching and food
and fellowship.
(If you would like to know
more about Fresh Expressions of Church then there is a Vision Day at Newcastle
of the 24th June. Details are on the Diocesan web site)
Bill Hybels says that
‘the local church is the hope for the world.’
With a caveat of ‘when it
works well.’
“There is nothing like the church when it’s working right. The local church is the hope of the world.”
– Bill Hybelshttps://www.willowcreek.org/
So – how well do you think
you are doing?
How well do you think you
doing at being and developing a Faith Community?
A Faith Community that
exemplifies the Trinitarian community of reciprocal love and always makes room
for the other?
Bishop Michael invited
everyone to the Cathedral on the 20th May for an event called ‘Next
Steps’ – this was Bishop Michael setting out his vision for the dioceses and
its onwards journey of continuing growth and development.
He reaffirmed the Five
Icons of Focus as a mark and measure for each and every Church. That every
Church in the Diocese should be regularly asking how it is addressing these
Five Icons.
Ø Practicing
Generosity
Ø Reaching
New Generations
Ø Discovering
the heart of God
Ø Growing
Disciples
Ø Transforming
Communities
He then went on to invite
us to - ‘come follow Christ in the footsteps of St Chad.’ In so doing, we were to deepen our
discipleship, discover our vocation and engage in evangelism.
On Wednesday, Jane and I
went to the funeral of a lovely Church Army Captain, Eric Shaw.
One of the hymns chosen
before by Eric was ‘In heavenly love abiding.’
Now I know what Anna Letitia Waring was trying to say in this verse…
In heavenly love abiding,
no change my heart shall fear;
and safe is such confiding,
for nothing changes here:
the storm may roar without me,
my heart may low be laid;
but God is round about me,
and can I be dismayed?
no change my heart shall fear;
and safe is such confiding,
for nothing changes here:
the storm may roar without me,
my heart may low be laid;
but God is round about me,
and can I be dismayed?
However it does in some cases appear as a suitable anthem for much of
church life in quite a different way.
That with all that is going on out there in this crazy, mixed up and
dangerous world, when the storm roars around us, we want to come here Sunday by
Sunday and find that ‘nothing changes
here.’
I understand that to a
degree.
That being said, last week we
celebrated Pentecost – the time when the disciple were forced out of the upper
room and into the market place to bear witness to Jesus, his death,
resurrection and ascension.
Today we are recipients of
their labours and all those who followed on faithfully heeding the Great
Commission.
How are we doing at
passing on that legacy, demonstrating by our life together that the Christian
faith is dynamic, life transforming, life affirming and life giving?
That the Christian faith
can face life today with all its multiple challenges and opportunities and
offer a true way of life – ‘I have come that you may have life, said Jesus, and
life in all its fullness.’
Do people see that
‘fullness of life’ in us as the People of God – as a Faith Community?
Do we always emulate the
Holy Trinity that makes room for the other?
Brothers and sisters, we
have a choice to make.
We can join in the Divine
Dance of the Trinity and assist in the recreation and redemption of the cosmos,
inviting others to come and join in.
What we might say is ‘living out the Lord’s Prayer.'
Personally, you may have some doubts, being
in two minds about it all, and yet you could embrace the dance and go with the
flow, learning the rhythms and patterns as we live and grow alongside each
other.
Growing and developing as a community of
reciprocal love, care and fellowship, always with room for the other.
Alternatively, we could say that ‘nothing changes here’ and that we like
it this way. It is familiar and comforting in a troubled and troubling world.
The difficulty with that is in fact
everything changes; everything is in a state of flux. You are powerless to stop the processes of
ageing, of either buildings or bodies.
The dynamic symbiosis of the Divine Trinity
is a creative force that always brings forth new life, new hope and new
possibilities.
Getting caught up in the Divine Trinity as
a community of reciprocal love you will also discover that same creative force
that will bring new life, new hope and new possibilities.
You will discover
that you are able to practice generosity, reach new generations, discover
the heart of God, grow as disciples and transform this community.
The choice is yours to make.
Let us pray...
Holy
God, the one who calls,
accompanies
and sustains,
so
use our hearts and minds
that
honour may be given
to
your faithful witnesses
past and present;
and,
as new patterns of living
flow
around us,
draw
us into your pattern
for
offering new life in Christ
to
all peoples and nations,
and
especially to the people in this
community
of Brown Edge.,
By
the power of the Holy Spirit
make
us courageous, creative,
gentle and obedient to go where you are
and
give glory to your name.
Amen.
CMS
Emerging Mission Study (adapted)
