On Holy Trinity Sunday, Sunday May 26, 2024, I had the privilege to be with God’s people gathered as Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Beatrice, Nebraska. Thank you so much to Pastor Kathee Forrest for the invitation, and to the whole congregation for the warm welcome. I was invited to come and preach and assist in worship, to lead a forum and conversation time with the congregation, and enjoy a wonderful potluck lunch too. At the beginning of worship I also brought greetings on behalf of the Bishop and the whole synod, as well as words of gratitude for all that the congregation is a part of, especially through its continued participation in mission share. It was a beautiful day of worship and celebration which even included three baptisms. What follows is the majority of the manuscript I preached from based especially on John 3:1-17 and Romans 8:12-17.

Grace and peace from God in Christ, who is with you, for you, and who loves you. Amen.

The Awe of Mystery
There I was. Late on a Friday night a couple weeks ago. I suspect some of you were right there with me. Outside. Staring up to the heavens overhead, the sky, and to the horizons in all directions. Witnessing wonders of wonders, The Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights, dancing in their many beautiful colors. When I saw them right overhead, I was overcome with awe. Yes, there are scientific explanations of the magnetic field and solar flares and storms from the sun that led to this experience. But to see them in such vivid array so far from their usual geography, and right overhead here in Nebraska was a gift and a surprise. One that invited me and anyone else around the world who witnessed them that weekend, to look up with wonder, awe, and hope. Perhaps you too were able to go looking at the colors in the sky?

I start there, because even with the science involved, there is mystery and wonder that comes in witnessing such majestic signs of nature and God’s beloved creation. That seems like a good place to start when thinking about Holy Trinity Sunday, where we find ourselves today on the church calendar. Now, I’ll let you in on a little secret about myself. I may not remember as much as I would like to admit of what I learned in seminary. But I do remember one thing. “Don’t fall for the trap of trying to explain the Trinity. It’s a trap!” Because words fail to explain the Triune. So, with that in mind, I am going to do my best to not fall into that and rather wonder with you about how the Triune God- the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit might be inviting us to join in the dance of mystery and grace.[1]

The Triune God is the perfect community and relationship. It is a relationship of living with one another, leaning on one another, and giving and taking with one another. It is a relationship where words fail to describe, and where we are best left to admit that God is God, and we are not. This might well be where faith and mystery meet. For where words fail, or for when our own language and experience might stumble to explain something, God is there.

In that intersection of faith and mystery there is a promise of grace which the Triune models so well, and then invites us to be a part of. The Apostle Paul writes in our second lesson this week, “for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”[2] Perhaps at its best, this Sunday that we celebrate the relationship and promise of the Holy Trinity, is one that also helps us more deeply remember who God is, whose we are, and then by extension who we each are as beautiful and beloved, individual, and unique, children of God.

The Triune God- the Three Persons- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Together, our 3-person God who redeems, reconciles, comes near, walks with us, and saves us. Us, God’s beloved children, each created in the very image of God, each part of the Body of Christ together. But also each who is very much unique. An individual with unique gifts, strengths, passions, talents, and perspectives. That are our own. An individual who is Beloved. Known. Baptized. Claimed. Just for who we are. A Child of God. A sibling in Christ with every other Child of God near and far today, and from every time and place. This is a beautiful thing to remember. One that might just create the same kind of awe as we might feel when looking up at the heavens.

It’s a mystery as to why God does what God does at times. Jesus describes the mystery in part, through comparing the Spirit to the wind, which is helpful for imagining what this mystery might entail and feel like, at least for us here in Nebraska. Where there are even signs on the highways that say, “Watch for Wind.” As ridiculous as that might be, if you think about it. Jesus says, “The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”[3]

God is up to something through the movement of the Spirit. Some might say God is even on the loose. But that’s just what God does. God surpasses our wildest imaginations, ideas, and conceptions. Such is what life is like in the Kingdom of God. Where we might think we have it all figured out, God will go and do something new. Or, just when we think we know what direction the next storm will be blowing in from, the wind goes and changes directions. Again. And again. I’ve seen it happen. I’m not originally from Nebraska. And before living here, I had never seen the wind change and come out of every direction imaginable in one day. Well, we know it’s possible, don’t we?

The Good News for You and for Me
Regardless of the direction of where the wind and the Spirit may be coming from or going, God is clear that God’s love is real. This is Good News for you and for me. Paul explains that that promise of love is like that of “a spirit of adoption,” where God calls us and claims us once and for all.[4] It’s something we might picture in baptism, where one is “born of water and Spirit.”[5] And through which a new Child of God is claimed, marked, and sealed, forever. When through God’s promise, a new child of God is made a very heir of God’s promises, “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,” as Paul explains.[6] 

Through baptism, just as God will do again today in a few moments right here through three baptisms, God calls and invites each Child of God into the dance of discipleship. It’s a dance of mystery and grace, modeling the mystery and grace that the Triune God abundantly shares and provides. One that embodies Jesus’ answer to Nicodemus’ questions we hear again today. Nicodemus is just trying to understand and make sense of it all. He is trying to grow in his faith and understanding. So Jesus meets with him and helps point to the “why” behind all of this mystery. Jesus explains, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”[7]

I am going to guess that most of you know John 3:16 very well. It might be one of your favorite verses? But did you know that the following verse, John 3:17 might be even more important? That’s where grace shows up. Jesus is making clear that the Mission of God that he is a part of, is not one of judgment and condemnation. But one of life-giving and life-saving love. It’s one of grace. And not just for a few people, but for many and really all of God’s beloved, so that “the world might be saved.”[8] Not just you or me. But that all of God’s beloved creation and world might be saved. This is Good News and a gift.

We’re invited into this. We’re invited into this dance of mystery and grace. Invited to receive it as a gift, but also as trust and responsibility. Nicodemus asks his questions because he wants to understand. Ultimately, he would get there as a later disciple of Jesus. But he struggled at first to make sense of it all, as we all do. We’re not so good at accepting mystery sometimes, are we? But there isn’t a mystery with the Mission of God. It’s clear. God in Christ has come so that the world might be saved. The world. The whole world. Not just one piece or people of it. So where does that leave us? Trying to find exceptions to Jesus’ work? No. But rather to accept it humbly and joyfully. And then to respond by joining in with God in some of God’s on-going work. To witness to God’s creative activity all around us, and to respond as stewards of God’s love. Showing through all that we have and all that we are, to our neighbors near and far, that God’s love is given freely and is for you.

How is this made real Through You?
Holy Cross you do this. You point to the signs, mysteries, and promises of God’s grace and love made real. You do this by living out your call, “Inspired by the Holy Spirit to Serve.”[9] You do this by growing as disciples and equipping all of God’s people through Faithbuilders Sunday School opportunities, confirmation, and through Vacation Bible School which you will be diving into no doubt with the best of snorkels and scuba gear next month. You do this through learning together and making space for conversations and going deeper through forums and fellowship time. You do this by gathering for worship just as we gather again this morning as God’s people, as you give your noisy offering with joy and hope for disaster response efforts today, and as you raise your voices in praise to God through song through the music of Faithful Sounds.

You do this through so many serving ministries that you host and participate in- to feed your hungry neighbors, to clean up your community, to show love for your neighbors near and far. You do this by welcoming your neighbors through creating presence and a space for safe conversation through community groups like Narcotics Anonymous and Joyful Steps. You do this by pulling up a chair to the table to have conversation with one another over a tasty potluck, like we will together a little later today, and through Wholly Food and the true art of hospitality through your newer casserole ministry. You do this too through all of the larger church ministries you are a part of that I already shared about earlier at the beginning of worship.

God’s love in part is shown and made real through you, Holy Cross. And God’s love is made real through you too, because you ask the big questions and don’t avoid them. But you wonder the good Lutheran question, “What does this mean?” You wonder and ask, “What might God be up to?” “What might God be inviting?” “What might be next?” To ask such big questions are a sign of faith and trust. To ask them, is part of what it means to  “Go and Be the Church,” showing through all that you are and all that you do that God’s love is real. All of these ways that you serve, that you respond as stewards, and commit to grow as disciples are signs of love made real. And all of these questions that might be on your mind are good and faithful signs of discipleship too.

What the Trinity might have to say about what’s next?
On this Holy Trinity Sunday, what might the Triune God have to say about what might be next for you as God’s people here in Beatrice? I don’t know for sure. I know that Pastor Kathee will be retiring at the end of the next month, and I’m sad as her ministry colleague about having to say goodbye, but I’m excited for her and her family and for you. Because God is no doubt inviting us all into yet another amazing time of discovery and an invitation to come and see what God might be up to next. To listen. To witness. To step up. To join in. And be God’s people here in Beatrice. Pondering new possibilities to experiment, just as so many other congregations across the synod and the whole church are right now to most faithfully continue to serve and share as the Spirit leads, and as God’s presence here in and with your larger community. And you will do so, because you have committed to follow Jesus’ invitation, and are “Inspired by the Holy Spirit to Serve.” And you will do so knowing that you are not alone. That God is with you in this time, just as God is always with God’s beloved through all of life’s ups, downs, highs, lows, and surprises. That God is with you too, no matter the questions, dreams, or wonderings you might have.

What are the questions spoken or unspoken on your hearts and minds today? What are the questions on the hearts and minds of your neighbors here outside of the walls of the church in Beatrice? I am sure you also have questions as you wonder about what might be next. Those questions are faithful. They are questions in the spirit of Nicodemus who comes to Jesus, wanting to learn, grow in his understanding, and to be a faithful Child of God. What I can promise you is this- that God meets you where you are at. That your partners in ministry of the Nebraska Synod walk with you. Things might look a bit differently than we might sometimes hope for or imagine, but if we’re open to the Spirit’s movement, willing to watch for the wind, so to speak, and to go wherever it might be leading and inviting- we might just not only see God at work and up to something, but we might also actually join in with the Triune. We too might just join the dance of mystery and grace that God invites us to be a part of.

Holy Cross, thank you for all that you do. Thank you for being the faithful disciples of Jesus that you are. And thank you for being open to the Spirit’s leading and invitation. I’m excited to see where the Spirit may be leading next. Join the Dance with our Triune God knowing that God’s promises are true! That God is with you, for you, and loves you. Always. Thanks be to God. Amen.

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Citations and References:
[1] The basis of this sermon was built off a commentary reflection that I wrote for the Stewardship of Life Institute, entitled, “Join in the Dance of Mystery and Grace,” published 22 May 2024. It can be found here: https://www.stewardshipoflife.org/2024/05/join-in-the-dance-of-mystery-and-grace/.
[2] Romans 8:13-14, NRSV.
[3] John 3:8, NRSV.
[4] Romans 8:15, NRSV.
[5] John 3:5, NRSV.
[6] Romans 8:17, NRSV.
[7] John 3:16-17, NRSV.
[8] John 3:17, NRSV.
[9] Made clear on the congregation’s website: https://holycrossbeatrice.com/.