Deut 4:32-34, 39-40
The book of Deuteronomy contains a lengthy speech of Moses as the people prepared to enter the Promised Land. This was a place where the people worshiped many gods and goddesses. Moses reminds them there is only one God – the one who brought them out of Egypt.
Romans 8:14-17
Paul’s letter to the Romans is his most detailed and important theological work. In this portion of the letter, Paul stresses the importance of the Holy spirit in the lives of Christians. Through the Spirit’s presence within us, we enjoy not only new life, but also a new relationship with God, whom we can call by a new name.
Mt 28:16-20
Bishop Untener’s Homily
I don’t think we sit back often enough, and take in with wonder and awe, and enjoyment, the truths that God has revealed to us. You see, if we understand these great truths, it changes everything. That’s what makes us act differently. That’s what causes us to want to follow the Way of the Lord. It’s because of the way we see things.
Now for example, the Trinity. On this Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Trinity. Here’s a way of looking at it that you might find helpful.
The universe bears the imprint of God, and if you want to get clues as to what God is like, look around at what God created. When we look around at this universe, what do we see? We see multiplicity... variety... beauty... inter-connectedness... motion... liveliness... life. Now that gives us a clue as to what God is like. That’s why we speak of God as a trinity of persons in which there is multiplicity... variety... beauty... inter-connectedness... motion... liveliness... life. God is not some immobile being looking out with a blank stare. We can’t describe God except to use analogies. God is all the wonderful beauty of this universe. God is all the wonderful relationships of a people who love one another. That’s why we teach God as more than a solitary person. God is the Trinity.
Did you ever wonder why, in the human race, everyone has an instinct for family, for relationships? It’s in our blood. It’s in our bones. That’s because we’re made in the image and likeness of God, and we have it in us to connect with other people – not to be solitary folks – but to have relationships, to experience loving and being loved.
Now the wonderful thing is, you and I have been made part of God’s own family. We’re part of the life of the Trinity. That’s why I think of the first reading (the words of Moses): "Did anything so great ever happen before? Was it ever heard of?" Well, it is almost too good to be true... us being part of God’s own family.
Today we’re celebrating Father’s Day. If you want to understand God, take all the beautiful thoughts of Mothers Day and the beautiful thoughts of Fathers Day, and feelings too, and roll those all together, and you have an experience of what God is like. You have a sense of God.
So that’s all I have to say to you this morning. I have no, "Therefore, go out and do this... therefore do that." I simply want all of us to appreciate the wonder of this god whom we call God, this god who created us in the same image and likeness of God...this god whose fingerprints are in the universe. When we appreciate this, then this is a God with whom we want to spend time with. This is a God we want to be close to. And this is a God to whom we want to give thanks and enjoy with wonder and awe.
We do that in many different ways. Most of all we do it together when we gather at Eucharist, which is the Greek word for "Thanksgiving." As we celebrate this Eucharist this morning, keep in mind who it is that is with us. And keep in mind who it is that we hold in our hand at communion. It is the Lord Jesus who is the sacrament of God’s presence, which means it is God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Enjoy this God who is so close to you, so much a part of you. Reverence this God. Give thanks to this God. God bless you.
Originally given on June 18, 2000