THE FEAST OF THE HOLY TRINITY: Homily

“JESUS, JESUS, JESUS”

Saint John 3. 1-15

The Feast of the Blessed Trinity: 26 May Anno Domini 2013

Fr Jay Watson SSP

Blessed be the Holy Trinity + and the undivided Unity

Which means: In The Name + of Jesus

   Melanchthon was simply one more brilliant theologian, and faithful Lamb of the Good Shepherd, who uttered a revealed truth: “It is better to adore the mysteries of the Lord than to try and explain them.” Note, he said “mysteries” not revealed truths.  But even revealed truths are simply to be believed as well. They are believed by the power of the Lord Himself, the Lord and Giver of Life—the Holy Ghost—working such faith in Melanchthon’s heart and in yours.

   Another great and brilliant theologian, David Scaer, a “Melanchthon for the 20^th & 21^st centuries” said “all theology is Christology.” Scaer is right because the Lord is right. The Lord told Saint Philip: “I am.” Christ on other occasions, to the Pharisees and Scribes had also said “I am.” I AM is the Name of God, the LORD, Adonai, revealed to Saint Moses from the burning bush in Exodus. It is a Hebrew verbal-noun that indicates pure existence without beginning or end. I AM is eternal, infinite, alpha and omega, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, creator, Pantocrator, God & Lord. Jesus, Joshua—the one who brings Israel safely across the Jordan into Canaan—tells Phillip “I am The Way, The Truth and The Life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” This Nazarene with flesh and blood (a blood type; eye color, skin with hair follicles) isn’t a wise man with “ways” to verity and health, but is in HIS BEING AND ESSENCE “THE” Way, Life and Truth. Jesus is God. And in this discourse with Philip, Thomas and the others Christ also mentions “The Father” and “The Comforter, the Spirit of Truth.”

   This is revealed Gospel. This is Trinitarian talk. And oh, this is mystery wrapped in mystery, penetrated by mystery. Holy, Holy, Holy.  This Trinitarian awesomeness is why the Seraphim use one of their “three” sets of wings to cover their eyes while they chant the Sanctus; and while they behold the atoning sacrifice of Calvary as well.

   You believe, teach, confess, and die for if required, the Trinity because JESUS is your God and Lord and the very Icon, Face and presence of the Trinity!  If you believe, trust and yes WORSHIP the Lord Christ Jesus, then you believe that He is in the Father, the Father is in Him; that He, Christ, is in you and that you are in Him; that the Holy Ghost is also in and with the Father and the Son and has come to dwell and stand beside you in comforting truth, peace, and endurance!

   All theology, all “God-talk” is Christology, “Christ-talk,” Christ confession and Gospel-ing! Or, as the Apostle wrote to the Colossians: Jesus is the “Image (icon) of the invisible God” (the Father and Spirit and eternally-begotten 2^nd Person) and also that: “…in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” [Col 2. 9]

   Art can be beautiful. Schematics and clever designs can illustrate one point at a time but not explain Trinitarian mystery. Triangles, triquetas, trefoils, and Augustinian interloping circles can at one time in one way reject either Tri-theism, or Modalism (two damnable heresies); as well as anathematize the greatest heresy of Arianism! But the only way to receive Trinitarian presence, indwelling, and love is to receive it the way Nicodemus did—in THE FLESH of the God/Man Jesus!

   Christ was talking in mysterious Baptismal talk with this believer named Nicodemus. And though Nicodemus’ rational and logical empirical gifts could not comprehend re-birth, re-generation, and the pure Grace of the Holy Spirit creating faith when and where it pleased God, the God/Man, the Trinity in flesh and blood taught and fellowshipped with this Jewish convert. To be washed in this Three-in-One and One-in-Three is to be placed into the wounds of the one lifted high on the wooden cross. To have the deadly and rotting snake venom of sin, death and the devil, sucked out of your corpses and to live and thrive and be loved again, is to have Jesus, the Apostle of the Trinity, to be lifted up like a cursed snake on the brass pole of Moses, the condemning Law.

   In the end, which wasn’t the end, faithful Nicodemus believed the only way one can, in simple, submissive, worship and trust. Nicodemus came to that pole, that blood drenched crucifix, and helped to remove the body and blood of GOD from the pole and lay Him in the tomb.

   Nicodemus, Joseph, the Magdalene, the Blessed Virgin, John, and all the others, saw the Lord again Alive and resplendent in glory. They continued to meet with Him all the days of their earthly sojourn. And every time they received on their tongues His precious God Body and His Holy God Blood they in their Baptismal re-birth, were washed in The Blessed Trinity—because they were in Jesus and Had Jesus in them.

    God is love writes the Disciple of love, John “the beloved” who had had his head resting on the God/Mans holy breast during…the SUPPER!  Jesus is God testifies the Church. Jesus is love. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son writes the same Apostle! Love is Trinitarian because the Trinity is eternally manifesting love—inter-Trinitarian love which is total mystery, and extra- (outside, toward all mankind) Trinitarian love which is mystery called sacrament. God loved the world “in this way” means in this giving and sharing and self-sacrificing way of loving: washed clean in love, fed in love, strengthened and given rest and peace in love. This love is the Cross because this love is the Body and Blood of the Christ given and shed for you!

Blessed be the Holy Trinity and the + undivided Unity; which simply means In the Name of The Father and of The + Son and of the Holy Ghost; which simply means

IN THE + NAME OF JESUS!