.5-31-2026 Holy Trinity
Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him, but they doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” The Gospel of the Lord
Do not be afraid! Peace be with you, Jesus gave these messages. I ask you to Believe them both!
Jesus returned from the dead and told the women who had gone to the tomb: 10 “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers and sisters to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” They had such good news to share. It was so exciting, they must have felt very privileged to be the first to share the wonder of the resurrection. Jesus is the Messiah and He has triumphed over sin and death. With that victory it was to be understood that the mission was not over, but only getting started. It would continue through Jesus’ followers. The foundation had been laid, the seeds had been planted, but there was more to do. The first step was for the eleven to return to Galilee. And they went.
Already you can pick up the sense of defeat and sorrow which is part of this story, for there are no longer twelve disciples. Judas’ absence is a reminder to each of them not only of his betrayal but their own doubts and inconsistent loyalty and dependability. We hear their worship is offered but it comes alongside of their continued doubts. Jesus does not judge them, just ventures ahead explaining their assignment.
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 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. Now the reason is given for why they don’t need to worry as they go out to teach and make disciples - Jesus will be with them every step of the way. They are in Galilee, where their instruction and adventures with Jesus had begun and from there they will take up this new chapter.
This directive from Jesus is not meant only for that motley crew of fishermen, not just for the women who went to the tomb, nor is it for the tax collectors and outsiders with whom Jesus ate meals, nor only for those he healed and restored. Yes, it included them and they were amazed to be given this task and overwhelmed by the scope and responsibility of it. For some it would mean to go to places they had never been and for all it meant dealing with people they did not know, who were from different cultures and races. This job included reaching out to those in Samaria, those long-lost relatives whom the Jews considered the black sheep of their relations. Those old prejudices were still active and would have to be set aside in their newly forming Christian hearts. There was good news to be shared, Jesus loved them all, so they would have to do the same. Some would be called to go even further - to the very fringes of the world they knew.
We can only thank God they did. Having taken in that breath, bringing the Holy Spirit into their hearts, they responded and went. So that witness comes down the generations to us. Now we are the ones who have inherited that directive. Jesus came to save us all from sin and the separation it brings. We too are to go and tell and show Jesus. As Jesus becomes known it will also be the Triune God who is revealed. As Jesus said - baptize them: in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit. Jesus himself makes that Triune designation clear. He doesn’t go into a how-that-can-be explanation, He just states it as the way to relate to our God. On this day of Holy Trinity, the church emphasizes the varied facets by which God relates to his children and how our God advocates the vital nature of God’s unity. Trinity is meant to model for us the communion in which we exist and conduct the mission to which we have been called.
Over the years I have heard a number of ways to use earthly examples to help open up the meaning of Trinity. As I was driving this week I looked into the sky and saw the amazing clouds that were fashioned above me. I thought how like the Trinity this was. The cloud has been a powerful expression for the presence of God within Scripture. God made God’s-self known to Moses within the cloud; led the people out from Egypt from the cloud, God spoke to prophets and the people from the cloud. So, could well think about God the Father like a cloud. We also know that rain comes from the cloud, with that cloud providing the moisture that the earth needs to bring forth vegetation and fill the streams and lakes with life-giving water. Without water there is no life, just as Jesus brings sustaining life to us, making all things new. There are times when the cloud changes and brings forth an explosion of power with thunder and lightning, exciting stuff! I can see that aspect of the cloud’s activity as the Spirit. It is all part of that buoyant, seemingly translucent condensed water formed cloud, with the multiple forms in which it appears. It’s expressions work as a unit to create wonder, water, and promote life. Not a bad way to think about our God. Yet it certainly does not cover all the Trinity is. God cannot be limited to an earthly derivative, and we must accept that we cannot understand all there is about the mysterious divinity that creates, loves, saves, and guides us.
As our God comes to us in this creative, varied way, we are to appreciate and anticipate that this Trinity desires to be with us always, ready to act on our behalf. We can count on support as we call upon the Name, to obediently fulfill the commands of God, so all will know they have God’s love. In the waters of Baptism our commissioned journey was begun. Let us continue to work with each another in the unity of purpose, utilizing the many facets of the gifts provided, so all people come to know the One who is Three, bringing us together in peace.