Three P's of Trinity Sunday: Persons, Pentecost and Proverbs

Anthony de Mello in The Song of the Bird tells of a bishop whose ship anchored at a remote island.  Since he only had one day there, the bishop was determined to use the time profitably.

He strolled along the seashore and came across 3 fishermen, mending their nets.  In broken English, they explained to him that missionaries converted their village to Christianity. “We Christians!” they proudly proclaimed. The bishop was impressed. In talking some more, he discovered that they had never heard of the Lord’s Prayer. The bishop was shocked. “What, then, do you SAY when you pray?”

“We lift eyes to heaven and say, ‘We are 3, you are 3, have mercy on us.’”

The bishop was appalled. This would never do. In fact, it sounded almost heretical. So, the bishop spent the whole day teaching them the Lord’s Prayer. Even though the fishermen were slow learners, they were finally able to struggle through it before the bishop sailed away the next day.

Months later, the bishop’s ship happened to pass by that same island. The bishop paced the deck, recalling with pleasure the 3 men who were now able to pray, thanks to his patient efforts. While he was lost in his thoughts, he happened to look up, and notice a spot of light to the east. The light kept approaching the ship and, as the bishop gazed in wonder, he saw 3 figures walking on the water. The captain, too, was amazed and he stopped the boat so everyone could see. When they got within speaking distance, the bishop recognized the 3 fishermen.

They exclaimed, “Bishop! We see your boat go by the island, so we come to see you.”  Awestruck, the bishop asked, “What do you want?” “Bishop, we are very sorry. We forget lovely prayer.  We say, ‘Our Father, in heaven, holy be your name….’ Then we forget.  Please tell us prayer again.”

With a quiet voice, the bishop answered, “Go back to your homes, my friends. And each time you pray, say, ‘We are 3, you are 3, have mercy on us.”

Trinity Sunday – most preachers like to skip today because people expect them to explain the Trinity in layman’s terms. So, in addition to the story of our 3 amigos, let me outline it for you in 3 P’s – none of them black-eyed. From John, Persons; from Acts, Pentecost; and from Proverbs, proverbs.

First, from John. We often use symbols to explain the Trinity – from Patrick’s clover to geometric designs. We find symbols of the Trinity in our church – the equilateral triangle and overlapping circles. Mathematicians and engineers may prefer triangles and circles, but they are static. If you want to understand the dynamics of the Trinity, you really have to observe and live the family experience. Families are dynamic. Think of any family – the First Family or the Royal Family, your in-laws or your neighbors. Based on your observations of the outer dynamics of any family, you determine the breadwinner and the spender, the problem solver and the troublemaker. You surmise their mission in life and predict where the children will be in 20 years. You rely on them for assistance or aggravation. We base our assumptions solely on what we know as outsiders.

Hollywood tries to give us an experience of the inner dynamics of family life – be it the Robertson Family, aka, Duck Dynasty or the Dysfunctional Housewives of Any City in America. But even reality TV has its limits. You don’t get the experience of living in that family. The only way one gets the inner dynamics of any family is by living in it.

So it is for Jesus – as the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. He knows the Father. The Father knows him. Together, they dwell with the Spirit. John tells us that Jesus revealed himself to believers. Over the past few weeks, we heard Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit. In today’s passage, he disputes unbelievers who claim him a Samaritan or possessed, and states, “Before Abraham was born, I Am.” Jesus claims that the Father reveals Himself through the Son, but even an infusion from the Holy Spirit could not have enlightened these unbelievers.

As believers, we accept the truth from Scripture that there are 3 Persons of the Holy Trinity – Father, Son and Spirit. We observe their outer dynamics – creation, redemption and sanctification – all performed with loving-kindness. We surmise that the inner dynamics of the 3 Divine Persons is stronger than any F-5 tornado – strong enough to overcome Satan, sin and death. And we can rely on their love.

From Persons to Pentecost, my 2^nd point. Today’s passage picks up where we left last week – Peter’s Pentecost sermon. Pentecost was an agricultural feast where Jews celebrated not only the harvest but also the giving of the Torah. It was known as the Shav – u’ – oth or the Feast of Weeks. This festival, celebrated 7 weeks or 50 days after Passover, brought farmers from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Asia, Egypt, Libya and Rome to Jerusalem to celebrate Shavuot. They came to thank God for the harvest and for the Law. To them Peter makes a fundamental presentation of the Gospel. … CFW Walther would have been proud of how Peter incorporated both Law and Gospel into his sermon. … And while Jesus could not convince his hearers, by preaching Christ crucified Peter stirred the hearts of some 3,000 that day. Scripture tells us that he converted and baptized 3,000 people. Through baptism, Peter brought them into the inner family. They observed the community of believers from the outside, and then experienced it from the inside. People who hear the Gospel are baptized as members of the Church, a believing community, a dynamic community of people who reflect the loving relationships of the Holy Trinity in their inner and outer activities.

Believers are members of a believing community, a Pentecost community. … Are we members of a Pentecost community? Are we a Pentecost people? … We are. … Turn to Roman numeral x in your Lutheran Service Book and read the lower right hand corner: “The Time of the Church – The Season of Pentecost.” From now until Advent, our corporate worship reminds us that the Holy Spirit is active in our lives. Hence, we celebrate the Sundays of Pentecost.

Like the first converts, we too were baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. We received forgiveness of our sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Because we are attuned to the Holy Spirit active in our lives as a faith community and individual believers, we are a Pentecost people. …

Are we a Trinitarian community? … Well, if you turn to Roman numeral xxi, you will find that these Sundays are also Trinity Sundays. They remind us to focus on the dynamic power of all 3 Divine Persons of the Trinity active in our lives. Therefore, according to our worship, we are members of a Pentecostal and Trinitarian community.

However, there is another way to know if we reflect the loving relationships of the Holy Trinity in our inner and outer activities – by asking outsiders what they observe. … This week, ask some outsiders how they see us. Do they see us as Spirit-filled people? Do they see us as a dynamic community? Would they say that we reflect the loving relationships of the Persons of the Holy Trinity? Does our living proclamation of the Gospel stir their hearts to the degree that they are kicking in the doors to get in – moving faster than Oklahomans scrambling for their storm shelters? I want you to think about that this week, and really ask someone. Ask anyone. If we are a Pentecost people, a Trinitarian community, it should be easily observable.

That brings me to my 3^rd point – Proverbs. The Book of Proverbs is a collection of sayings and instructions composed between the 11^th and 6^th centuries. Its primary purpose was to teach wisdom not only to young men, but also to the advanced. (I consider myself advanced.) Wisdom in the ancient Near East was not theoretical knowledge but practical expertise. Jewelers who cut precious stones were wise; kings who made their dominion peaceful and prosperous were wise. One could be wise in daily life by knowing how to live successfully (having a prosperous household and living a long and healthy life) and without trouble in God’s universe. Ultimately wisdom or “sound guidance” forms character.

Proverbs helped form our New Testament. … The New Testament saw Jesus as wisdom personified (today’s reading from chapter 8). The Letter of James is an instruction that resembles Proverbs. It also influenced the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, which derive their father-son language from the parental language of the book. The Gospel of John regards Jesus as incarnate wisdom descended from on high to offer human beings life and truth and make disciples of them.

… Wise people follow God’s commands revealed through God’s Word. Allow me to complete the verses of chapter 8.

Now, children, listen to me; happy are they who keep my ways.

Listen to instruction and grow wise, do not reject it!

Happy the one who listens to me, attending daily at my gates,

keeping watch at my doorposts;

For whoever finds me finds life, and wins favor from the LORD;

But those who pass me by do violence to themselves;

all who hate me love death.

Wise people follow God’s commands revealed through God’s Word. … That’s basic Lutheranism. “Since the Holy Spirit speaks only through the Scripture, the intent of the Holy Spirit is not to be separated from the words of Scripture.”[i]

Wise people who follow God’s commands revealed through God’s Word do not hesitate when tragedy strikes. People here responded generously with donations for Moore and other towns, including Edmond. People in just about every church and community across America responded generously. People are generous when tragedy strikes friends, neighbors and even strangers. Believers and unbelievers alike respond to tragedies.

When one’s cry for help is as loud as the winds of an F-5 tornado, our human nature reacts. In his Daily Devotion, Pastor Ken Klaus recently addressed the response of Charles Ramsey, the Cleveland man who heard the shouts of Amanda Berry, broke down the door and allowed her to call 911. Pastor Klaus says, “I’d like to think you and I would have done the same thing. I’d like to think that, but I’m not sure. You see it’s not always easy to do the right thing. It’s much more comfortable to come up with excuses on how it’s not my business and how somebody else ought to get involved, even in those situations when there is little or no danger. You doubt me? Then let me ask: What is the percentage of eligible voters who attend annual or quarterly congregational meetings? How many times do you read about your church’s need for officers or VBS teachers? How many really good voices come forward to sing in the choir?”

We react when the cry is deafening, but are we attuned to every cry? Imagine how difficult it must have been for Ramsey to free those women from bondage, especially when he knew and picnicked with their captor, Ariel Castro.

If we want to claim our church reflects the dynamic loving relationships of the Trinity, should we make it our business to get involved and make some feel uncomfortable or should we settle for the status quo? We should respond not only to the loud cries for help following a tornado, but also the whimpers of unborn children.

Mollie Ziegler Hemingway, an LCMS member and media critic, spotlighted mainstream reporters’ lack of coverage of the murder trial of Philadelphia abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell. Because her Lutheran awareness of vocation helps her understand her role in the world as a media critic, she was able to bring this trial to light in spite the pushback she experienced from the mainstream media. Quote: “Through my various vocations, I aim to serve God by serving my neighbor. When I’m writing a news story, I don’t think my job is to convert anyone but, rather, to just share the basic information that helps the reader. When I’m doing media criticism, I push journalists not to share my political or religious beliefs but, rather, to just practice their journalism fairly. When I’m writing opinion pieces, then I get to argue for a given cause.”

Hemingway is a courageous, thoughtful, spiritual, wise woman who heeds and practices God’s revealed teaching, and she provides an example for all of us. Whether we practice medicine or law, manage a restaurant or a sales force, crunch numbers or raise children, Mollie Hemingway gives us an example of how a baptized believer understands her vocation and serves God by serving her neighbors, whether they are victims of a deadly tornado or a cruel abortionist. … Like Charles Ramsey and Mollie Hemingway, we too must attune our ears and respond to not only the loud cries for help, but also the cries and whimpers of little ones.

To do so means we set aside social media and the remote and practice the art of listening to God’s Word and His loving creatures. When we listen and respond lovingly we are on our way to loving like the Trinity loves. To be a dynamic community like the Trinity, we will love like the Trinity loves. … And for those times we do not, may we pray: We are 3, you are 3. Have mercy on us.

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[i] The Abiding Word, Vol. 2, p. 39.

Coffee and Ministry: Art and Science

Coffee. Like most, I start my day with coffee. What did you drink this morning? Black liquid brewed from a big can or a boutique blend of caffeine and soy? Right now, I am drinking a cup of Ethiopian Organic Suke Quto. Black.

I home roasted the beans in my garage two days ago. I started home roasting ten years ago. Because I home roast, I do not get chicory or other fillers. I also enjoy reading about the regions of the world where my beans grow, such as Ethiopia, Guatemala or Sumatra.

Roasting coffee is a science and an art. One must have certain ingredients, equipment and knowledge (beans, roaster and the ability to follow directions). After burning a few batches and finally perfecting the roast, one can adapt a roast to suit – light roast, full-bodied or dark.

Exercising ministry, like home roasting, is also a science and an art. One attains knowledge by studying biblical, sacramental, moral theology and so on. After a few years at a seminary or university, one is prepared to work in a local congregation, hospital, school or elsewhere. Like other professionals, that is the science.

Art is producing or expressing something beautiful or appealing, according to aesthetic principles. In ministry, what one attempts to accomplish is art. When one proclaims the Word of God, chants a psalm or delivers a sermon, one expresses these words with greater appeal than reciting names from a phone book. When one visits infirmed members in the hospital, grieving families at the funeral home or despondent individuals in prison, one reminds the visited that God is present through his loving words and gestures, thus stirring the embers of hope. When one explains Luther’s Catechism, the Apostles’ Creed or the Book of Concord, one does it with a spiritual conviction that deepens another’s relationship with Christ and the Church. Even when one bakes a meal, sets up chairs or assembles worship aids, one is exercising ministry.

St. Paul reminds us that each one who ministers has different gifts but all from the same God (1 Cor 12:4-6). All – whether or not trained as professional ministers – are needed in the faith community. For, together, we are more than a collection of individuals. We are a “chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, a people purchased to be God's possession” (1 Pet. 2:9). In his essay The Priesthood of Believers and the Divine Service, Dr. George Wollenburg writes, “Individual members of the priesthood receive their identity when the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is put upon them. The nature and character of the royal priesthood is that of a community or society. The identity of each member of the priesthood is determined by his or her relationship to the community in which God lives with his Spirit (Eph. 2:22).”

How do you exercise ministry? Are you expressing something beautiful for others from the gifts God gave you? Ponder that over a cup of coffee.

Moving Daze

60 days ago, Cindy and I sat down to close on our house. In the last 60 days, we moved from the house we rented in Twin Oaks to the house we purchased in Tara. We unpacked and gave away boxes, bought and moved furniture, washed windows and burned brush. In addition to moving, we started working for new employers. I went from World Neighbors to Holy Trinity, and Cindy to DHS. We even found time to host a wedding and a houseful of visitors. And for those of you who wonder where I’ve been, I’ve been leading worship in Wellston for 3 Sundays. So, the last two months have been moving days for me. Hence, the title of today’s sermon – moving daze. That’s daze with a z.

So, let’s examine our readings. First, to see how Jesus moved his disciples’ hearts; second, 3 men who are moved and dazed by heavenly visions; and lastly, ask ourselves if we are moved and dazed by God’s love, and if we have moved or dazed others.

First, Jesus moved his disciples’ hearts. Throughout his life Jesus moved people’s hearts through his deeds and words. In today’s gospel the Lord speaks after he washed his disciples’ feet.

Think how those 12 men must have felt seeing their Lord and master assume the role of servant. Who of us would not react like Peter and protest? Imagine someone you love and admire washing your feet, and yet Jesus does this.

When finished, he stated, “Now is the Son of Man glorified.” Jesus … glorified … after completing an act of humility. When I think of glory, I think of Cooperstown and Canton, Lombardi Trophies and Stanley Cups, Oscars, Emmys and Grammys, paparazzi and presidents. I don’t think of 13 men in a room and one of them washing the feet of the other 12. But the term “glory” means weighty or important. In other words, love is a serious matter.

He then instructed his disciples to “love one another.” Jesus didn’t plea for them to get along, but instructed them to love one another, meaning “do what I do.” Well, they hadn’t yet witnessed his crucifixion, but they had experienced his humble act of footwashing. … “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

What follows next is Jesus’ farewell monologue interspersed by some unconventional responses. Here is what the dazed disciples said.

When Jesus tells them that he is going to prepare a place for them, Thomas says, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Following his explanation, Philip demonstrates dullness saying, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Finally, after telling the boys that He will show Himself to those who love Him, Judas asks, “Why show yourself to us and not the whole world?” The entire episode of washing their feet, instructing them to love one another and bidding adieu leaves the disciples moved and dazed.

From John to Acts and Revelation where three others are moved and dazed by heavenly visions. … Paul Harvey was famous for a series entitled The Rest of the Story which consisted of stories presented as little-known or forgotten facts on a variety of subjects with some key element of the story (usually the name of some well-known person) held back until the end. The broadcasts always concluded with a variation on the tag line "And now you know the rest of the story."

If we confine ourselves to 18 verses of Acts 11, we don’t know the rest of the story. So, let’s start with an introduction. In chapter 10, we are introduced to Cornelius. Cornelius was a Roman centurion who has a vision. In spite of how we imagine Russell Crowe in Gladiator, this professional soldier was a devout and God-fearing family man who prayed daily. One day while praying an angel appeared to him and instructed him to seek out Peter. So, he sends a detail down the coast to Joppa with instructions to bring Peter back to Caesarea. … Imagine telling a group of soldiers that you just got a message from an angel. …

The next day, Peter goes up on his roof to pray. He too has a vision. His vision occurs 3 times. In it God tells him to kill and eat the animals in his vision. Objecting that he will never eat anything impure, God reminds him that He has not made anything impure. And while praying about this vision the Spirit instructed him to go with the men who sought him … By the way, they’re waiting for you downstairs.

The story unfolds at Cornelius’ house. … Until that time, the only people believing in Jesus as the Christ were Jews. A gentile wants to join them, and for Peter to enter the house of a gentile meant that he rendered himself religiously unclean.

As Cornelius explained his vision and how he was moved by God to send for Peter, and as Peter explained his and how he was moved by God to take the Gospel to all people, the Holy Spirit came down upon them and they began to speak in tongues and praise God. They were so moved and dazed by this experience that Peter baptized Cornelius’ entire household.

Later, Peter explained his actions to the apostles, and once they realized that God granted the gift of faith and repentance to gentiles, they praised God, and then sent Barnabas to look for Paul who begins witnessing before gentiles in Antioch, which is where the word Christian is first used. … and now you know the rest of the story.

Like Cornelius and Peter, John too had a vision. How better to keep hope afloat for persecuted Christians than to tell them what God revealed. John’s Book of Revelation is apocalyptic literature. Filled with vivid imagery for a persecuted people, its main purpose is to offer hope. John interpreted the signs of the times as the end, and even though God triumphed over Satan, sin and death, he did not want Christians to lose focus on the church’s struggle against evil, false prophets and civil oppression.

In this passage, John envisioned a new heaven and a new earth, and he envisioned the old heaven and earth passing away. Perhaps that means nothing to us, but if you were living under the constant threat of persecution, the passing of the present age and the vision of a new one would be eagerly welcomed.

So, consider this: If you stood to lose your job and your friends, your property and even your family because of your religion what would you do? If you faced prison, isolation and death, would you remain a Christian? Would you renounce your faith or would you choose martyrdom?

Did you know that more than a million Christians chose martyrdom … in the 20^th century? More than a million Christians in Mexico through South America, from Nazi Germany and across the Iron Curtain, throughout China, Vietnam and much of Africa were put to death because they did not renounce their faith.

Well, that’s not going to happen to us because we are citizens who enjoy God-given rights. We don’t live in 1^st century Rome or some 20^th century communist bloc country or Nazi Germany. Our Constitution, Amendments and Bill of Rights guarantee us rights, liberties and freedoms. We can worship together, live our faith and fear nothing. But before you jump to that conclusion, let me tell you how persecution happens here.

When I was living and working in Berkeley, California, Proposition 8 was on the state ballot. The state legislature affirmed same-sex marriage, but ultimately the voters rejected it. During that time I sent a $50 check to a political action committee upholding traditional marriage. Within weeks I received a letter from an anonymous person who stated that I should be ashamed of what I did and that I should be fired from my job. So, while we may not be in the same danger as some Christians in the 1^st or 20^th centuries, when you proclaim your faith in word and deed, there are those who will hate and persecute you.

Finally, are we moved and dazed by God’s love? Have moved or dazed others?

Are we moved and dazed when we ponder what occurred in the Upper Room when Jesus assumed the role of servant and washed his disciples’ feet? Do we pray like Cornelius and Peter and meditate on the meaning of God’s revelation? Can we envision with John a new heaven and a new earth where God wipes away every tear from our eyes? Are we moved to loving one another – like Jesus? Do we risk loving others or do we prefer to keep love comfortable?

Keeping love comfortable is what we prefer. I’m sure Peter would have chosen fishing over shepherding, living on the coast rather than dying in Rome. I’m certain Christian martyrs of the 1^st or 20^th centuries would have gladly lived their lives in peace rather than persecution, but what about us?

I mean who wants to wash their uncle’s feet? Who wants to change their grandparents’ diapers? Do teenagers and young adult believe what friends profess or what their faith community professes? When I was my mother’s caregiver, there were humble acts of loving kindness that I would have preferred to be done by someone else, but you rely upon God’s grace to strengthen you to love beyond your comfort zone.

Humble acts of loving kindness are not confined to the nursing home or schoolyard, but they all involve personal interaction. You know, one of the more pleasant experiences I had after I joined the Lutheran Church was when the men who belonged to Our Savior’s in Livermore, California reached out to me, and invited me to join their men’s fellowship. That moved me, and so, I have to ask myself: Does my love move others? Does our love move others into believing in Christ or joining us for worship? Or, have the people with whom I interact fallen into a spiritual daze?

This week, let’s think about how Jesus moved the hearts of his disciples and ask ourselves, “When was the last time my humble acts of loving kindness moved someone else to love?” … Think about what humble act of loving kindness you wanted to do last week but didn’t. Think about what you’d like to do this week. And next week reflect upon what you did to bring one more person to Christ.

Let’s thank and praise God for how He’s loved us and moved our hearts to love more deeply.

Sad News

@cindycwynar: Our hearts are heavy with the loss of our beloved golden retriever Lindsey. She was a beautiful dog, wonderful companion and will be missed.