The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity 2024

Lectionary: 165

The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.

Only eleven disciples appeared on "the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them." One of the twelve is conspicuously absent. They are not as full of themselves and their accomplishments as they were before Judas's betrayal, Peter's denial, and Jesus's crucifixion. The Eleven are a wounded group – like the wounded, scarred Body of Jesus; and not unlike the Church. But the Lord commissioned them nonetheless, to "make disciples of all nations."

And they should do this by 

baptizing in the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

This word is powerful. The truth of the One God and Three persons is powerful. It is sometimes demanding and intrusive. The nations might not want to hear it. Especially those who are happy with the way things are. They're comfortable, they're content. Why rock the boat? 

But more people will welcome the truth, for they know that something is seriously wrong with the way things are. Our way is not working; our accomplishments accomplish nothing; and our satisfactions are not satisfying. 

What can the doctrine of God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit teach us? What can this wounded Church teach us? 

The Eleven tell the world that our God is supremely powerful. Our God is more powerful than even his own power. And power has no authority over him. God our Father can say no to power; he can disown it; surrender it, hand it over to another. Being supremely powerful, in God's eyes, is not worth very much. 

And so the Father cedes his authority to God the Son who not only receives all authority in heaven and earth; but is also more powerful than power; and in obedience to the will of the Father and the guidance of the Holy Spirit he renders himself powerless. If Jesus is not wrapped in tight, swaddling clothes, and lying helpless in a manger he cannot save us. He must go to Jerusalem, suffer humiliation, torture, and crucifixion. Obeying his tormentors, he must carry his own cross to Calvary. He must suffer himself to be buried in someone else’s grave for he has no money to buy his own. As Saint Paul said, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.' (Philippians 2:6)

We have never seen such authority. Our powerful people are possessed by it and cannot let it go; they are helpless before its demands. Threatened with a loss of authority and power, they fear death itself; and they make worse threats. Stripped of power they whine and snivel and say they've been cheated of what was theirs. They want their entitlements back. 

We would not believe that an all powerful God can and does surrender his authority if we had not seen it. We would not believe it if the Eleven had not obeyed the command of the Lord to baptize all nations in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

The truth of God's humility is demanding and often intrusive to those who will not welcome it; to those who do not love it with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. But you cannot ignore a broken back; and you cannot suppress truth no matter how much you despise it. It may be intrusive, rude, and obnoxious. It may punish those who sneer at it; but it is never arbitrary. It is reasonable, patient, and merciful. It has more time than anyone. If the Lord does not direct our work, our greatest accomplishments will disappear and be forgotten. Neither the Great Wall of China nor the pyramids of Egypt can resist the eternity of God. 

The wounded Church went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them, humiliated by their own folly and by their misguided impulses. When they announced the Gospel they made no secret of their human failings. And they remain obedient to the Mercy of God. No one should believe in a Church that clings to power, as if it owns the truth; as if it's a private possession and privilege for select men and women who have neither sinned nor admitted that they sin.

We confess our craving for power, and surrender that craving to God’s authority. Where we are given authority as parents over children and pastors over parishes, we beg for that same humble Spirit which directed Jesus throughout his life. That Spirit is wiser, more compassionate, and gentler than anything we can manage. It sees the future, which we cannot imagine, and knows where we are going. 

Saint Francis told the parable of the corpse that is declared king and crowned with a golden tiara. When the corpse is stripped of that same crown, it sheds no tears and expresses no regret.  

But, because we speak the Truth, we cannot condone falsehood or encourage deception. We hear of doctors who affirm the misguided in their confusion, and counselors who assure their clients that if it feels right it must be right. We must not encourage fools to remain in their foolishness; or sinners to remain in their sin. That pseudo-compassion which promotes abortion, assisted suicide, and mutilation of one's sexual being is neither kind nor merciful. The Lord himself warned such advisors with terrifying language. 

As we ponder the beauty and mystery of the Holy Trinity, we hope we are owned by the Truth; and, like Jesus, obedient to it. The truth will always be a heavy cross for those willing to carry it, but those who bear it can expect to wear a crown of glory.