The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Lectionary: 164

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.

"It's all over but the shouting!" Someone said after the home team won the championship; and with the Easter Season behind us we're still shouting about its mystery and majesty. Who could imagine that "The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity," might give his only Son in love for us to a painful, ignominious death? 

Saint Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, remembering an obscure verse in Psalm 68, says of the Lord's victorious ascension into heaven, 

“He ascended on high and took prisoners captive;

he gave gifts to men.

Now everyone loves gifts especially if they're thrown out freely and indiscriminately to a crowd eager to celebrate a hometown win or a new store opening. 

Paul goes on to explain the wonderful gifts of the Risen Lord: 

He gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Well, it's not exactly a BB-gun or a red wagon, but, okay, let's see what you got here. The Church, the Body of Christ. An end to loneliness. A purpose in life. Balm for persistent anxiety. An end to frustration. A community of shared values who find meaning in the smallest gesture and gladness in festive occasions like Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost. That's pretty wonderful. 

His gifts include evangelists, pastors, and teachers, which seem in short supply right now; and the plagues of depression, despair, and loneliness certainly call for men and women consecrated to these professions. 

Saint Paul also told his Corinthian people about the "gifts of the Holy Spirit;:" 

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; to another the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit; to another mighty deeds; to another prophecy; to another discernment of spirits; to another varieties of tongues; to another interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.

Saint Cyril of Jerusalem discovered a wonderful analogy for the Holy Spirit in water. Just as water nourishes an endless variety of plants and animals, each according to its need, so too does the Holy Spirit nourish every person according to their needs, abilities, and aptitudes.  

Finally, Saint Paul will say more about God's gifts in the sixth chapter of the same Letter to the Ephesians, we should: 

...put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day, having done everything, to hold your ground.

So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate,

and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace.

In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all [the] flaming arrows of the evil one.

And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

As the American Civil War continues, we ask God for these gifts to defend us against the culture of death and these gifts to announce his Victory.