For Sunday
Trinity Sunday A
Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Reading
Reflection
This week’s passage is referred to by many as The Great Commission. These final verses in the gospel of Matthew depict a risen Jesus telling his disciples to go out into the world and make new disciples. An edict we associate with evangelism.
It also has a parallel association with a darker mission. It informs ideas of supersession: of transforming all people and nations and placing them under the authority of the church.
And to be honest, neither of those things is what most of us think of when we think of the Trinity.
The doctrine of the Trinity has developed over the last two thousand years as a beautiful, mysterious, challenging vision of God. It was born out of deep conflict and encouraged deep conflict. This is why I continue to wrestle with it.
And yet, the idea that we can even participate in divining the nature of God is still so remarkable.
This is, after all, what is remarkable about the Great Commission, too. That Jesus was speaking to people who followed him all this way. And he is sending them out with all of the responsibility. All of this opportunity. Even when some doubted. After this all, some doubted. And that doesn’t stop the program.
We’re so obsessed with our programs, paradigms, and projects: that they be perfect. Right. Just so.
And yet, here’s Jesus. Sending his followers out. Giving them the keys to the whole store knowing some of them doubt. Most are probably unsure.
And yet here we are. Making the most of it. Trying to share that kind of love with other people. The kind that is willing to let go, even when things are so very far from perfect.