A mystery to live, not to solve

Trinity Sunday is unique—not tied to a specific event in Jesus’ life, but to the mystery of who God is: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Yet the Trinity is more than a doctrine to analyze—it is the reality of a living God who relates to us in love.

In John 16:12–15, Jesus prepares His disciples for what is coming. He promises the Spirit of truth, who will guide them—and us—into all truth. This passage opens a window into the deep and beautiful communion within God and invites us to live in that divine relationship.

1. The Trinity Is a Living Relationship

Jesus speaks of the Spirit, who does not speak on His own but speaks what He hears—glorifying the Son, who glorifies the Father. There is a divine dance here—a mutual indwelling of love, sometimes called perichoresis in ancient theology.

The Trinity is not a hierarchy but a relationship of love, honor, and shared glory. And this is the heart of our faith: not just beliefs, but communion. God with us, God for us, God in us.

2. The Spirit Still Speaks Truth

Jesus tells His disciples, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” What a compassionate word. God doesn’t overwhelm us. Instead, the Spirit meets us where we are and gently leads us forward, revealing truth in due time.

In a world overflowing with noise and misinformation, the Spirit’s voice is steady and true—not loud, but faithful.

I once sat with someone grieving the loss of a loved one. They couldn’t pray. They couldn’t understand. But later, they shared how a quiet moment of stillness gave them a peace they couldn’t explain. That was the Spirit—gentle, timely, and true.

The Spirit continues the work of Christ by speaking what comes from the Father and the Son, leading us not into fear but into faithfulness and freedom.

3. We’re Drawn Into the Divine Life

The Trinity is not a closed circle. We are not just spectators to this holy mystery—we are invited in.

Through Christ, we are reconciled to the Father. Through the Spirit, we are adopted into the family of God. That means the love that flows between Father, Son, and Spirit now flows in us.

We are called to reflect this divine unity in how we love one another, serve one another, and forgive one another.

The Trinity is not just something to believe in—it’s something to become a part of.

Conclusion – Living the Mystery

So today, don’t try to master the mystery—let it master you. Let the love of the Father, the grace of the Son, and the voice of the Spirit draw you deeper into God’s heart.

God is not far off. God is here—speaking, guiding, and loving.

You are not alone. You are being led. You are being loved.
One God. Three Persons. Always with us.

Amen.

Introduction – Presence, Not Absence

Pentecost is often misunderstood as the moment Jesus “left” and something else came in His place. But today we proclaim a deeper truth: Pentecost is not about absence — it’s about presence. Jesus had prepared His disciples for His departure, but He did not leave them empty. In John 14, He promises that the Father will send another Advocate — the Holy Spirit — to be with them forever. Pentecost celebrates the fulfillment of that promise. It is the day the Church was filled — with fire, with power, with guidance, with divine presence. In a world filled with loss and longing, the Spirit is God’s ongoing answer: You are not alone.

1. The Spirit Fills What Was Empty

In Acts 2, we read that the Spirit came like a rushing wind and filled the house where the disciples were gathered. That image echoes into John’s Gospel. Jesus promises, “He lives with you and will be in you.” (v.17) The Holy Spirit doesn’t just visit us — the Spirit inhabits us. The space that could have become a void after Jesus’ departure was instead filled with God’s very presence. And this same Spirit fills our lives today: our hearts, our worship, our community, our calling. Pentecost means that we do not live in a spiritual vacuum — we are temples of the living God.

2. The Spirit Brings Peace, Power, and Memory

In verse 26, Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will “teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.” This means that the Spirit is not just a vague force — the Spirit has a voice, a message, a memory. And it is the Spirit who enables us to remember Christ, to live by His Word, and to remain in His peace. That’s why Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” The Spirit does not bring chaos or fear, but calm assurance and inner strength. It is through the Spirit that we continue to walk with Jesus — not by sight, but by presence.

3. The Church as a Spirit-Filled Community

Pentecost was not just a personal experience — it was communal. The Spirit filled the whole house, all who were gathered, and sent them out into the world. From the beginning, the Church was not a building or a program — it was a Spirit-filled movement. Today, we are invited not just to believe in the Spirit, but to live by the Spirit. Our mission, our unity, our boldness — all flow from the presence of the Spirit in our midst. We are not simply people who remember Jesus; we are people who are filled with the same power that raised Him from the dead and sent Him into the world.

Conclusion – We Are Not Alone

Pentecost reminds us that God did not leave us behind when Jesus ascended. Instead, God drew closer — not beside us, but within us. In a time when so many feel empty, isolated, or spiritually dry, the message of Pentecost is this: God has filled the house, and God longs to fill your heart. The Spirit has come, and the Spirit remains. So let us not live as though we’ve been left alone. We are filled, not forsaken. Let every breath be a reminder that the Spirit lives, moves, and speaks — here and now.

The Church is more than a gathering of people; it is the living Body of Christ, called not only to love and abide in Christ but to be empowered and sent into the world. In Luke 24:44–53, we find the risen Jesus preparing His disciples for this very calling. Before ascending into heaven, Jesus opens their minds to the Scriptures, commissions them as witnesses, promises the Holy Spirit, and blesses them. In doing so, He shows us what it means to become the Church: not a passive assembly, but a joyful, Spirit-filled witness to the Gospel.

First, Jesus opens the disciples’ minds to understand the Scriptures, revealing how His life, death, and resurrection fulfill what was written. This is foundational for the Church. We are rooted in the story of Christ, and we are called not merely to remember it but to live it. “Thus it is written,” Jesus says, reminding us that repentance and forgiveness are not just theological ideas — they are our mission. Becoming the Body of Christ means embodying this good news in the world. The Gospel isn’t something we keep to ourselves; it is a story we are called to proclaim through word and deed.

Jesus then makes a striking declaration: “You are witnesses of these things.” The disciples are not simply spectators of God’s story; they are participants. Witnessing, in the biblical sense, means testifying with our lives. It is an active, ongoing role. This truth applies to every church member, old and new. New members are not just joining a community — they are stepping into a calling. The Church needs their voices, their experiences, and their faith. A church is not complete without the witness of all its people.

But Jesus does not send His followers in their own strength. He promises they will be “clothed with power from on high” — a clear reference to the coming of the Holy Spirit. This is vital: the Church’s power is not found in programs, traditions, or buildings, but in the presence of God’s Spirit. We are called to wait, to pray, and to be open to this power. It is the Spirit who transforms our love into action, our peace into mission, and our gathering into true witness. Even in seasons of waiting, the Church is being prepared to move.

Finally, Jesus blesses His disciples as He ascends. They are not left in fear but go forth in joy and worship. The Church is born not out of anxiety, but out of blessing and praise. Our mission begins with the knowledge that we are loved and sent. For new members, this is your commissioning: you are now part of Christ’s Body, empowered to witness. For long-time members, each new beginning reminds us that the Church is always being reborn, always being sent anew. Let us be the Church clothed with power, grounded in joy, and faithful in our witness to the world.