Trinity Sunday

Many people today are hearing a sermon about the holy Trinity – understandably, as this is what we call “Trinity Sunday.” A lot of congregations are listening to some theological discourse on the inseparability of the three distinct persons of the Trinity – about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit being one God. And good priests and preachers all over the world are trying desperately to make sense of the creation story while encouraging us all to go forth and make disciples of all people.

Now, Biblical study, or philosophical discourse, and theological inquiry are all fine things. But we can miss the greater reality to which they point.

For instance, we Christians argue about whether the God we proclaim as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit really must be referred to only as what some jokingly call “two boys and a bird.” We proclaim sometimes-helpful insights, such as the notion of a God who exists in relationship – not alone or apart from everything and everybody else, but in conversation, both serving and being served, accountable. And we come across delights of Trinitarian theology over the ages, like the idea that the three persons of the Trinity loved each other so much that they became one. To Christians who have any sense of tradition, the doctrine of the Trinity is undeniably an integral part of our faith.

One God in three persons: we can debate and discuss and reason, trying to understand more of this mysterious paradox. Yet there is another strand of thought, one that follows from the likes of Justin Martyr, that seeker for the truth who died in about the year 167. Justin tells us that anyone who thinks God even can be named is “hopelessly insane.” And, just so you don’t think he’s hopelessly insane, consider this: no less venerable an authority than St. Augustine of Hippo in his own treatise on the Trinity, cautions against those who “allow themselves to be deceived through an unseasonable and misguided love of reason.”



So, instead of the usual treatise on the foreshadowing of the Trinity in the Old Testament – you know, those three men who appeared to Abraham under the oak at Mambre, and whom Abraham invited in and entertained in the plural, but went on to speak of as one, in the singular – instead of that kind of thing, let's focus on perception.

When we try to sort out things like the holy Trinity, when we try to establish and fix exactly what it means – we forget that our thoughts are but theories, mere projections of what we would like God to be. “No one has ever seen God,” the Apostle tells us – but that does not stop us from trying, does it? And in our determined search to understand the ineffable, to find out the truth, to know all things – we tend to fall prey to a spiritual kind of blindness. We miss seeing that which is right in front of us, the full presence of God.

There is not one meaning of the Trinity, or one means of describing that reality – but a great wealth of meaning. That assertion also comes from Augustine. And the doctrine of the Trinity, the very human idea of “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,” and all our language about God – these are but symbols of a greater reality. Augustine reminds us that when we think about the Trinity, “we are aware that our thoughts are quite inadequate to their object, and incapable of grasping him as he is; even by men of the calibre of the apostle Paul, [God] can only be seen … ‘like a puzzling reflection in a mirror.’” Our thoughts and words mean nothing in themselves, if we cannot look through them, beyond them, and because of them – to something else.

That something else is a vision of peace and harmony that Jesus proclaimed is very near us. That something is a place of rest and refreshment the likes of which we have not dared to imagine. That something is a time of joyful reunion with all our departed loved ones – and indeed, all the company of heaven. A house with many mansions, a lamb that was slain and who reigns forever, a death unto eternal life.

This is the meaning of the holy Trinity: that there is a God, who made us and loves us and cares for us, who beckons us all home to live with him for ever, who calls us now to a new life of justice, freedom, truth, peace, and – above all – love. In our human state, we are subject to a chronic bout of blindness, in which we sometimes focus our attention elsewhere, and miss seeing the vision of heaven that God has placed right in front of us – each of us, and every day.

May God the holy and glorious Trinity grant that the scales may fall from our eyes, that we all may see what lies in front of us with the eyes of faith. Amen.

Water. John 4:5-42

This sermon was preached on Sunday 24th February 2008 by Ann Batchelor who is a member of Saint Martin's and is training for the Ministry of Reader in the Church of England.

Water.

We can’t live without water.

In the children’s hymn Water of Life it tells us how important water is.

The first verse is easy to identify with. Anyone with a conservatory which has a glass or plastic roof can easily imagine the sound of the rain falling. We seem to have had more than our fair share of rain over the last year so the sound of rain for some produces the re-action O not more rain! However come the summer we will probably be told to save water in case of a drought.
The second verse could easily describe the work of water aid. A charity which is dedicated to help people escape the poverty and disease caused by living without safe water and sanitation.
The well shaft would be similar to that which the Samaritan would have been visiting when she met Jesus. That such a meeting would have taken place is astonishing. A Jewish man would not have allowed himself to be alone with a woman let alone talk to her. In doing so he would have laid himself open to the risk of impurity, the subject of gossip and being drawn into immorality. The woman was also a Samaritan and the Jews would have nothing to do with them. What was even more surprising was that Jesus asked her for a drink. A complete no no.

Finally the women had a bad character. Jesus was obviously aware of this when she told him she had no husband as he told her that she had had 5 and the man she was currently with was not her husband. This would have been the reason why she visited the well at that particular time of day. She was unlikely to meet anyone who knew her, her past or her immoral lifestyle. This also explains the disciples reaction when they returned.

Any encounter with Jesus has an element of surprise. The woman was eqully surprised when Jesus asked her for a drink. Jesus’ reply that if she knew who he was SHE would have asked him for a drink and he would have provided her with living water.

It was being offered living water which puzzled the woman. During Jesus time living water referred to running water in a stream or river. Not from a well or pond. It’s water that is fresh and clean rather than water that’s been left standing and getting stagnant.

Jesus makes it clear that the living water he is talking about is something quite different. He is talking about a signpost, a guide. The water he is offering will not only quench the thirst but will refresh you with new life which his coming to the world brings. A life that will change, with God’s help.

The woman doesn’t know exactly what Jesus is talking about but she wants to know more. The woman comes to realise that because she has heard Jesus herself she knows that he is indeed the saviour of the world. He provides the living water.

Nobody can live who hasn’t any water.
When the land is dry, nothing much grows.
Jesus gives us life, if we drink the living water
Sing it so that everybody knows.

This last verse explains how the Samaritan woman must have felt. Her life did not amount to much. She met Jesus and realised what he was offering. She gained a new life through him. She went away and told others. IT changed all areas of her life.

When we accept the living water we must be prepared that it will change every area of our lives.
Without Jesus in our lives we can not live life fully. We need to nurture this in ourselves and others. We don’t need to sing out loud but by our thoughts, words and actions we can show Gods love for us.

Pentecost - Happy Birthday Church!

One of the last things Jesus said to his disciples was that they should wait in Jerusalem for his Spirit to come. So they waited, altogether, meeting in a large house, often eating together. But most of the time, they were waiting and praying.

I wonder what they thought they were waiting for? What would happen when the Spirit of Jesus would come?

They also spent most of the time hiding from the authorities who had persuaded Pilot, the Roman Governor, to allow they to kill Jesus. So whilst the disciples were thrilled that Jesus was alive again, they were still very scared of the religious authorities.

A number of days passed. How long were they to wait? Had they missed it?

There was a special and important feast in Jerusalem, called Pentecost. As well as being Harvest Festival, Pentecost was also a time when the Jewish people thanked God for giving them the Law (for example the ten commandments). It was exactly seven weeks after Passover, when Jesus had been killed. As at Passover, Jerusalem was packed with visitors.

The disciples began this special day by having a meeting to pray. They squeezed into this room in a house, about 120 of them!

As they were praying something strange and brilliant happened. If you had been there you would have said that a gale force wind suddenly blew through the house. Everybody noticed it. Everybody felt it. It swept through the room and everyone was .. well, a bit frightened and excited at the same time.

And then they saw what seemed like fire, but no one was frightened. It was like a fire .. but no one got burnt. Everyone of the disciples was touched in turn.

It was there. He was there. The Spirit of Jesus had arrived. They were so full of joy, not least because Jesus had kept his promise. And they began to sing and shout. Some danced. Some laughed. Many cried.

People passing the house stopped to look through the door.

"It's a party!" they said as they saw the disciples. "They look drunk to me!" said another observer. Peter staggered out of the house. He felt, well, on fire! He felt as thought his very heart would burst if he didn't tell someone there and then about God's gift. And as the other disciples spilled out the house, they too began to speak about God's great love.

And a great crowd gathered.

"They are drunk I tell you." grunted a passer by. "They can't be drunk," said another, "they are telling us about God!"

Peter found somewhere to stand where the great crowd could hear him.

"Everybody here, listen to me. Listen to me"

The crowd hushed and listened.

"We are not drunk! It is only 9 in the morning! But what you are seeing is what God promised. The prophet Joel, many years ago, told us that one day God's Spirit would be poured out on to men and woman everywhere. And this is it! Today is that day!"

The crowd listened even more intently.

"It is all because of Jesus, who was killed in this very city less than two months ago. Yes, he was killed, but God brought him back to life. We knew he was special, because of the wonderful things he did. But now we know who he really was. Who he really IS! Jesus is God's son.

The people were shocked. They could not believe that such a thing could have happened in Jerusalem. Some felt guilty, other ashamed.

"What shall we do?" they asked as they pushed forward to get closer to Peter.

"Say sorry to God, and believe that Jesus is God's son." And with that Peter and the other disciples went into the crowd. They prayed for people, talked to others. And once again, some were laughing, some crying, some even shouting God's praise as they were all touched by the very same spirit of God.

It was wonderful. It was the best ever Day of Pentecost. By the end of the day, at least 3000 people form that big crowd had joined the disciples. The very first church had just been born.

You will be my witnesses... to the ends of the earth!

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

This verse sets the program for the Christian life; we who are followers of the Risen Christ are also called to be his witnesses wherever we go.

What’s that? You say that this commission was just for the apostles? If that is so, the witnessing would have come to an end centuries ago. Do you think that Peter and John and James ever heard of Barnehurst? Oh, but then perhaps it’s the job of the bishops, the successors of the apostles to be witnesses? Or perhaps the role of witness is meant for all of the ordained clergy?

Think again, the commission is for all us. “You will be my witnesses.” The commission is for all us who are called to take part in the royal priesthood of all believers. Just as Jesus said, “Follow me,” he also said, “Be my witnesses.” So we had better be about doing just that!

But how are we, living in the 21st century, in a place that the apostles never even heard of, to be witnesses to something that happened 2,000 years ago, in a place most of us have never seen? Sure, we’ve read the Bible; we know the story, but does that make us witnesses? Can we give evidence? We weren’t even there!

Let’s look more closely at what Jesus says, “you will be my witnesses.” Our testimony is about him, not just about what happened long ago and far away. We are to give evidence about what we ourselves have heard, seen, experienced. We can’t be witnesses unless we have met the Risen Christ—unless our lives have been transformed by him.

This is something that we, as Christians, probably do a lot more often than we know. St. Francis of Assisi said it well: “Proclaim the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.” How many persons in your own life have been witnesses, silent or otherwise, to you?

Probably we don’t think of ourselves in that way. Nevertheless, if the Lord Jesus calls us to be witnesses, we’d better not think of this as something optional. But what we do? How can we get started? It would appear that two things are necessary.

First of all, of course, we can do nothing through our own power. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,” Jesus said. As we await the glorious feast of Pentecost next Sunday, let us pray earnestly for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all of us, both corporately and individually.

The second thing that we must do is spoken of in Acts: “All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer,” The communal prayer and harmony reflected in the stories from the Acts of the Apostles should serve as a model for our own church community. Any disunity in the Body of Christ will always be an obstacle to the effectiveness of the witness we bear. As the Lord Jesus prayed on the night before he died that we might all be one, so we must pray and act as one.

In the Baptismal Service say, “God has delivered us from the dominion of darkness
and has given us a place with the saints in light. You have received the light of Christ;
walk in this light all the days of your life. Shine as a light in the world to the glory of God the Father.” We must be wholehearted in this commitment, in order to be his witnesses.

Let us pray: May the love of the Lord Jesus draw us to himself; may the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen us is his service; may the joy of the Lord Jesus fill our souls, and may we be his witnesses wherever we may be. Amen.