Do Believe in Trinity

I wonder if you have heard this one:  Several centuries ago in the 1300s, the Pope decreed that Jews had to convert to Catholicism or leave Italy. There was a huge outcry from the Jewish community, so the Pope offered a deal: he’d have a religious debate with the leader of the Jewish community. If the Jews won, they could stay in Italy; if the Pope won, they’d have to convert or leave.

The Jewish people met and picked an aged and wise rabbi to represent them in the debate. However, as the rabbi spoke no Italian, and the Pope spoke no Yiddish, they agreed that it would be a ‘silent’ debate.

On the chosen day the Pope and rabbi sat opposite each other. The Pope raised his hand and showed three fingers. The rabbi looked back and raised one finger. Next, the Pope waved his finger around his head. The rabbi pointed to the ground where he sat. The Pope brought out a communion wafer and a chalice of wine. The rabbi pulled out an apple. With that, the Pope stood up and declared himself beaten and said that the rabbi was too clever. The Jews could stay in Italy.

Later the cardinals met with the Pope and asked him what had happened. The Pope said, ‘First I held up three fingers to represent the Trinity. He responded by holding up a single finger to remind me there is still only one God common to both our beliefs. Then, I waved my finger around my head to show him that God was all around us. The rabbi responded by pointing to the ground to show that God was also right here with us. I pulled out the wine and wafer to show that God absolves us of all our sins, and the rabbi pulled out an apple to remind me of the original sin. He bested me at every move and I could not continue.’

Meanwhile, the Jewish community gathered to ask the rabbi how he’d won. ‘I haven’t a clue,’ said the rabbi. ‘First, he told me that we had three days to get out of Italy, so I gave him the finger. Then he tells me that the whole country would be cleared of Jews and I told him that we were staying right here.

‘And then what?’ asked a woman. ‘Who knows?’ said the rabbi. ‘He took out his lunch, so I took out mine.’ (1)

God continues to work in the mystery. Sometimes, language is beyond us, and yet, God is in our midst.   For the last two weeks, we have been in a series of sermons on essential beliefs in the universal church – resurrection, Holy Spirit, and today, Trinity.  On this Trinity Sunday, we will consider a beautiful and weighty mystery as we conclude our series on essential belief.  Next month, we will have a share a series on narrative stories out of the parables.

When I speak with those considering joining the church, I share with them this mystery of church history: Many of the divisions of the church over time can be broken into two camps – first, governance – how do we organize ourselves and second, theology – how do we understand God.  The question of governance often relates to authority – who should have ultimate determination of scriptures or clergy – an issue for another day.  The questions of theology– how we understand God, often circle around the question of trinity.  Who do we understand God, Creator- Father, Son -Redeemer, Holy Spirit – Wisdom to be and how does God relate to us and to God’s own self?  In a word – Trinity!

In Roman Catholic, traditional Protestant, and Orthodox understandings, there has been a focus on apologetics and structures when it comes to such heady topics as the trinity.  This is where St. Patrick came to use the shamrock to the Celtic people as they explore their understandings of Christianity.  This is where Luther made sure that hymnody include clear proclamation of theology, so that average lay people might articulate their understandings.   This is where the modes of stages of water vapor, liquid water, and ice alongside parts of apple, and now smores have been used in the church for millennia.  This is our faith seeking understanding.

However, as a church, we have sometimes overstated our certainty.  We have oversold models in hopes of convincing, rather than encouraging faith.   The concept of the trinity is beyond our comprehension, which is why we lean on metaphors and analogies to begin with.   The Desert Fathers, two Gregory and Basil, introduced the church to comparing the members of the Trinity to the source of light (Father), the light itself that illumines (Son), and the warmth when you feel the light (Spirit) to Augustine’s Lover (Father), Beloved (Son), and the Love shared between the two (Spirit).(2)

In speaking about Trinity, we come face to face with the reality that language had limits.   Jan Richardson, United Methodist elder and poet wrote it this way:

“You created all that is

as the Spirit hovered

and the Word spoke

and Wisdom beaconed

and the whole of You delighted in Creation

now we are tangled up in the limits of our language

trying to make You three and one

when You are always so much more

a Sacred Mystery breathing Life

and stirring visions” (3)

For me, I found that I resonate more strongly with the language that describes the God of the trinity in this way: “God for us, God alongside us, God within us.”(4) Richard Rohr, Franciscan friar, offers a simple and profound opportunity to engage God as Trinity without abdicating reason, experience, scripture, or experience.  He adds, “Remember, mystery isn’t something that you cannot understand—it is something that you can endlessly understand! There is no point at which you can say, “I’ve got it.”

Always and forever, mystery gets you!”   In this understanding, trinity in foremost about relationship.

I imagine this is why so many have struggled with trinity in the first place. We necessarily privilege the person of the Trinity we ‘met’ or know first.  For many of us, that is Jesus.  When we meet Jesus, we determine Jesus to be most inviting and most welcoming.  Sometimes we get stuck in the division of God of Old or New Testament as distinct.  Our experiences or biblical readings feels different than the Jesus we have met, and we begin to imagine that it must be that we have ‘met’ different people in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit – not Trinity, thee in One.  To invite Richard Rohr back into the conversation: “The energy in the universe is not in the planets, or in the protons or neutrons, but in the relationship between them .” (5) The dynamic trinitarian relationship pulls at the reaches of our minds.  Our theological minds, however, are up to the task!

For us this year, Trinity Sunday not only stands at the gate of ordinary time, but also at the gate of summer.  When I was a little girl, maybe also for you, Memorial Day, was more than just a day for parades and potato salad (Of course, as an adult, we remember with reverence much more), it was the unofficial start to summer.  While we realized there were weeks (usually a few) left of school, summer was here – the air had changed.  In the church year, ordinary time is here.  The air and calendar have changed.  This Sunday, Trinity Sunday – which we are pondering today is the gatekeeper to the endless summer of ordinary time – do remember you that feeling as you headed into the summer days –  weeks and weeks.

There is something about the change in liturgical and cultural seasons that gives a new opportunity to consider God’s work in and through the world.  The possibility of different time and space, the hope of tomorrow.  Let us together contemplate this blessing:  In this new season may you know the presence of the God who dwells within your days, the mystery of the Christ who drenches you in love, the blessing of the Spirit who bears you into life anew.

This is the Gospel, the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

(1) http://www.swapmeetdave.com/Humor/Religious.htm

(2) http://www.workingpreacher.org/craft.aspx?post=1617

(3) Rachel Keefe https://rachaelkeefe.wordpress.com/2018/05/24/a-poem-for-trinity-sunday/

(4) Rohr, Richard, Divine Dance and Your Transformation.

(5)Ibid.

Old Testament Lesson:  Psalm 29

Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
worship the Lord in holy splendor.

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over mighty waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.

The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl,
and strips the forest bare;
and in his temple all say, “Glory!”

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!

Gospel Lesson:  John 3:1-7

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”  Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.”

Meditations For Your Week

Sunday, May 27 ~ Saturday, June 2

Sunday:  The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.” Psalm 29: 4  Consider the majesty and power of the LORD as something to be in awe of, not fear.

Monday:  “​The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.  The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.”  Psalm 29:7-8.    The power and the glory of God is known in nature.  Where are you experiencing God?

Tuesday:  “​The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, ‘Glory!’ The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;    the Lord sits enthroned as king for ever.”  Psalm 29:9-10.  Pray for our leaders of government as they make difficult decisions.

Wednesday: “May the Lord give strength to his people!  May the Lord bless his people with peace!” Psalm 29:11.  God desires to bless God’s people.  Where can you see the blessings of God?

Thursday:  “Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” John 3:3.  Consider where God is calling you to new life.  We are always being asked to remold, reform, and to be born again to be more like Christ.

Friday: “Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’” John 3:7-8.  Where have you known the movement of the Holy Spirit in your life recently?

Saturday: “‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. ” John 3:17  Pray for all those who are seeking Jesus, but do not yet know for whom they are seeking.