Trinity Sunday (Romans 8:12-17)  06/03/2012

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A few years ago my family decided to venture west for our summer vacation, starting our week in Las Vegas and ending our trip in Phoenix. The highlight of the vacation was a tour of the Grand Canyon and the surrounding area; we were all really looking forward to the many beautiful and amazing natural wonders of this area. My sister and her family were excited to join us and in the heat of early July we all headed west to explore sites unseen. The desert landscapes and the rugged terrain of Arizona were most memorable for me and we spent many days touring the great outdoors as a close family unit. We peered across the Grand Canyon in many spots (and carefully looked down into the Canyon every once in awhile), but the greatest family fun was a one day journey down the Colorado River, starting in northern Arizona. Floating down the river with the canyon walls reaching high around us on either side was an incredible experience; an experience that helped me to understand why these canyons have been considered sacred space for so many generations of people. Everyone was having lots of fun as we floated down the river, but about halfway through the day one of the kids in the family became affected by the heat and needed immediate attention. Everyone worked together to provide all that was necessary for the young family member in need, coming together to provide care and comfort in ways that people do when they love and depend on each other. Families of people come in many shapes and sizes, and families experience times of joy and challenge, but the essence of being together as a family is the ongoing endeavor of relationship, the ongoing work of being together for each other.

Today is the day for us to take time and reflect upon our Christian understanding of the sacred relationship of God; the celebration of the intimate relationship, the mysterious union of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and our participation in that Holy Trinity. Reflections on the Holy Trinity of God are often deeply theological and esoteric explanations, and as interesting as some of these reflections might be they may often fail to help us comprehend that the Christian understanding of God is undeniably rooted in love and relationship. God, as understood in the Holy Trinity, is the full expression of the power and presence of God; the full expression of the sacred mystery of complete and unconditional love, and the perfect model of mutuality in relationship. In our second lesson this morning we hear the Apostle Paul explain this sacred mystery to the Romans, and more importantly Paul explained the consequence of participating in the mystery of God’s love: If you live according to the flesh, you live for yourself and you will perish to yourself; but if you live by the Spirit of God you put aside a life lived for yourself and have then joined the Body of Christ. You have become part of the community of God and you therefore live in relationship with God. “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God,” wrote Paul. (Romans 8: 13-14)

We are brought to God through the Spirit; accepted by God as children, members of God’s holy family. Our adoption into the family of God, the Body of Christ, brings us the joy of calling God, “Abba! Father!” but our adoption into God’s family means more than simply shouting in joy to God as a loving parent. Our adoption into God’s holy family also demands our participation. Our membership in the family of God compels our active and loving involvement in God’s mission that can, from time to time, set us against the plans and priorities of this world. Transformed by our adoption into God’s holy family we are called to recognize poverty and help the poor; we are called to recognize suffering and comfort the afflicted; we are called to recognize all the love that God has to share and as members of God’s holy family we are called to spread that love wherever we are in this world. We have been transformed from slaves of this world through our adoption as children of God’s holy family. As members of God’s holy family we are called to a sacred relationship that endures all things and bears all things, as Paul told the early Christian church.

My family’s canyon river trip faced a time of challenge as we continued to comfort our overheated family member. Fortunately, the boats were on the side of the river and we were all taking a lunch break…water was available and there was plenty of shade from the heat of the summer day. Once in the shade, cool water was slowly poured over arms and legs and the back of the head. The soaking water changed everything – refreshed, revived, and restored, our young family member was renewed and ready to face the rest of the journey. This morning, Teagan and James will have water poured over their bodies and they will be refreshed, renewed and restored. We are fortunate to be members of this community as we baptize them and welcome them as they become adopted children of God, members of the Body of Christ. They, like us, will continue their journey through life as children of God’s holy family. The Baptismal Covenant compels us as members of God’s family to strengthen our relationships through prayer and worship, to serve Christ in all persons, and to respect the dignity of all people. On this Trinity Sunday let us joyfully proclaim our adoption as children of God and go out into all the world, spreading the Good News of Christ. AMEN.