Holy Trinity A

The gospel for today is another one of those texts with a great deal of movement in it. It starts out with off stage movement. You might recall from Easter morning that messengers at the empty tomb met some of Jesus' female disciples. First the messengers asked the women to COME, look at the empty tomb. Next they told them to GO, quickly and tell the disciples to meet Jesus in Galilee. So they went quickly up the road and as they were walking Jesus met them on the way. And reminded them again that they must GO to the disciples and then to have the disciples GO to meet him. Next, when we meet the disciples today they are GOING up the mountain where Jesus told them to go in Galilee.

Then finally, after all the going, the disciples SAW Jesus and the WORSHIPED him. All of the movement had paid off. The disciples finally got what they had been moving toward ever since the women first approached the tomb.

I think of another mountain top experience in the bible when I hear this. I am reminded of the mount of Transfiguration when Jesus took a few disciples up to the top of a mountain and they were washed shining white and they heard a voice from heaven say about Jesus, "this is my son with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him."

The disciples were so moved by this experience that they wanted to stay on the mountain top. They asked Jesus if they could build dwelling places for each person there so that they could remain in that shining warm glory of God. But Jesus said no, this is just the beginning. This is how our ministry is to start now we have to go back down the mountain and actually spread this news and live into this gift from God.

The disciples must have felt just like this on the day that we meet them in our lesson. They had been through a harrowing experience. They'd been hiding out through the crucifixion and entombment of Christ. Then they had had to do so much listening, traveling and moving. But finally they had heard the voice of God and seen God face to face. Jesus the resurrected had come to dwell with them. Surely they should make dwelling places and stay there forever.

But no, no the lifestyle of movement was just beginning for the disciples because while they were on the mountain top, again, instead of new homes to live in, they got a new commandment that involved a lot of movement.

Jesus commanded them to go to world and to teach what Jesus had taught them and to baptize people in the name of the father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

In the name of the Trinity they were to baptize. That is actually why we have this as our lesson today. Because it is Holy Trinity Sunday. But what a good lesson for today as we bless the children in the congregation and as we prepare to baptize a child of God in just a few minutes. And what a good day for it as it is the day we celebrate what it means to call ourselves Trintiy Lutheran Church.

But just like the disciples the message for us today, the message of the Trinity is one of movement. In the name of the Triune God. We are called to GO be in the world, to SPREAD the word of God and the good news that all people are beloved children of God and to INVITE those children into our community through baptism.

And not only that but even baptism is an act that requires movement. We will baptize Jordan today but then we are called as a whole community of believers to TEACH him, to HELP him, to FORGIVE him, to LOVE him and to GUIDE him. Just like we are called to teach and love, care for and lead all of the children of this congregation. That is why we have a day like today where we lift up our ministry to children and it is why we are so grateful for all of the people who work to make this a welcoming and fulfilling place for children.

Baptism is a beginning. The first movement in a lifelong journey.

How great to be to baptizing Jordan on a day that we are called to baptize in the name of the father and son and Holy spirit. And how great to be baptized people on this day!

Because just like the call to care for the baptized is a dynamic one, so to is the life of all baptized people. A life full of movement. It is for this reason that we baptize in the name of God father son and Holy Spirit. For this calling we need a God in three persons, we need all three to LEAD, to TEACH, to ACCOMPANY and to LOVE us and to GIVE us REST when the journey is too strenuous. It is through this quality of God that Jesus assures us in our lesson today that in all our journeys, in all of our movement as baptized people of God, we will never be alone even to the end of the age. We move after all not by our own power but by the power of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen