Homily for Trinity Sunday C, 2010

Today’s celebration of the Trinity reminds us that God is available to us in three different ways, or kinds of relationship.

In our first lesson from Proverbs we see wisdom described as if it were a person. Many Christians have viewed this as a description of the Holy Spirit’s role. John (in the prologue to his Gospel) associates this with the Logos who was with God at the beginning and entered our world as Jesus the Christ. Most of this book is instructions given by a scholar to a student on how to lead a moral life; with proper respect for God. Life involves choices: it is important that one be informed, trained and persuaded to make the right ones. The objective of life is attainment of wisdom, i.e. integrity in God's eyes.

Our second reading reminds us that God’s love is poured into us through the Holy Spirit. Christ is our entry point to God’s grace. The justification He gives has a second effect: even in times of trial it lead us to openness to God’s plans through the presence of the Holy Spirit in our person.

In our Gospel today we hear John’s understanding of the Trinity: Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit. The Son and the Spirit each draw from the Father and pass on to the faithful disciple.

Episcopalian writers often speak of us as people of the Incarnation. That is, we put great weight on God entering our human world in Christ and our continuing His work as “the hands and feet of Christ” in our own day. God is not just “out there” in interstellar space. Incarnation also gives us a window of understanding on the Trinity whom we celebrate today. The one God who is all powerful Creator, is also incarnate in Jesus the Christ and is (in Spirit) with us and uniting us in the Divine Oneness of the Trinity.

The Trinity is a perfect relationship of love in which neither unity nor distinctness of the divine persons is compromised. God is understood to be dynamic, loving, and available to be in sacred relationship with humanity for our salvation.

God can therefore be available for us in different ways. At some moments in our lives we need to see and feel that we are part of something bigger and longer lasting than the hassles of the moment. We need that connection to the infinite Creator of all things who loves us. At other times we are in need of a companion on the way who has answers we don’t and strength to support us. Yet, at still different times we are complacent or stuck and need God to surprise us. We need a Spirit that blows as it wills and pushes us along in the process, until we get the message.

My sisters and brothers, God has many ways of working in and through us, let us be open to all of them!