Sermon on Matthew 28:16-20
Pastor Jennifer Garcia
Today is Trinity Sunday, a day when we examine easily the most confusing part of Christian doctrine.
People have fought aboutthe Trinity since its conceptualization. The Church has split over and over again over disagreements about it.
We talked in our Creed study last fall about the split that divided the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches in 1054 CE. Christians disagreed about whether the Holy Spirit “proceeds from the Father” or “from the Father and the Son.”
It was just at last year’sChurchwide Assembly that the ELCA formally voted to receive a statement between the Lutheran World Federation and the Orthodox Church that says the filioque (the part in the Nicene Creed that says “and the Son”) need not be a church-dividing issue.
People have argued about the Trinity since the early Church. The doctrine of the Trinity is not specifically outlined in the Bible. It’s the way Christians in the first few hundred years of the Church came to understand the relationship between God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who are all specifically named in the Gospels, like in our reading from Matthew today.
It’s easy to argue over, because the Bible’s not super specific about what we should believe about it.
There’s a lot the Bible isn’t super specific about.
In our Gospel reading, when Jesus gave instructions to make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the disciples didn’t have much time to ask clarifying questions.
Their time with Jesus physically present in bodily form was coming to an end. He led them to a mountain and gave them some final instructions.
Their mission was urgent. Jesus named his authority and gave them what has become known as the Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.”
They didn’t get to ask whether the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father or the Father and the Son. Or the nature of Jesus’ divinity and humanity. Or even whether full immersion was required for baptism or if merely sprinkling water was fine.
They had a job to do, and a pretty daunting one at that. They were to carry Jesus’ message to the whole world.
The future of Jesus’ ministry was in their hands.
While I’m sure they would have loved the opportunity to ask questions, it’s interesting to note what Jesus didn’t leave them.
He didn’t leave them a treatise on the doctrine of the Trinity or a schematic or even a doodle explaining what Christians have been excommunicating each other over for centuries.
He didn’t leave them with a huge list of “thou shalt nots.” He didn’t say, “Be sure not to cuss or play cards or, when they come out with something called ‘R-rated movies,’—be sure not to watch any of those.”
And while, I’m sure the disciples would have appreciated some more detailed instructions for how to carry Jesus’ message throughout the world, Jesus didn’t give them a five-phase strategic plan for how to do it.
He left room for them to co-create with the Holy Spirit how exactly they would spread the Good News, make disciples, baptize them, and teach them the Way of Jesus.
It was less about “do it exactly this way or else” and more about “remember what I’ve been teaching you for the past three years and bring your own unique selves to how you love the world.”
And of course, his final words to them were: “remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
He probably knew they felt overwhelmed by the mission in front of them, and he reassured them that he would always be with them. If they remembered nothing else, that was enough.
As important as the doctrine of the Trinity is for how we understand God—the relationships within Godself and our relationship with God—it’s God’s presence that will get us through.
If the Trinity feels too abstract, remember our first reading. God—all aspects of Godself were present and active in Creation.God created, swept over the waters, spoke the world into existence, named things, blessedvarious parts of creation, and enjoyed and rested in it.
That same God continues to create alongside us. That same God promised to be with us always. That same creative Spirit fills and enlivens us every day.
God was present In the Beginning. God was present in the story of Jesus’ life. God was and is present in the Church’s story. And God is present in our stories too.
God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit; Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer; whatever your favorite expression of the Trinity is—God is with you always, to the end of the age.
And because of that, we get to share that Good News with those God puts in our path.
It’s not a matter of “winning souls for Jesus”—Jesus already took care of that.
We simply get to share with others what brings us to life.
If you’re moved by the way Caring Hands shows God’s abundant love to our neighbors, tell someone.
If you have a hymn from this morning stuck in your head later this week or you hear a song on the radio that reminds you of God’s love, share that with someone.
Even if you’re wrestling with faith right now, you don’t have to be quiet about that. It means it’s something that matters to you. We don’t spend time thinking about things we don’t care about. Sharing your doubts with someone shows your humanness and your passion around the big questions of life. Share your questions—let someone wrestle with them alongside you.
These are ways we start conversations. We don’t have to have a perfect script for convincing people that God is real or well-rehearsed answers to every possible question. We can just show in small ways that we’re safe people to talk to about things that matter.
That’s one small way we can co-create with God a world with more love, caring, and openness.
Making disciples isn’t about getting people into line. It’s about inviting them into the joy and maybe the doubts that fill your heart.It’s powerful when you show people your true self.
No matter what, God is with you, to the end of the age.
That’s Good News worth sharing.