Is there a God?  What is God like?  What are God’s plans?

Questions like this have been keeping people like us searching and probing since humanity was first given consciousness.  For some of us, these eternal questions carry great weight.  Some psychologists describe a ‘God shaped hole’ inside humans that yearns for spiritual fulfillment.  Throughout history we have found a myriad of ways of filling this void.  The most popular has been Christianity, which, like many world religions, continues to grow because it provides satisfactory answers to these profound questions.

This Sunday is Trinity Sunday, the only Christian feast that is not centered on an event or person – rather a theological doctrine – a description, if you will, of who this God is that lies at the heart of Christianity.  This is the Sunday many Christians ponder elemental questions of who God is and what God is like.

First, we will hear a reading from Genesis in which God’s litany to the breadth of Creation is that, ‘It is good.’  Then we hear a reading from Matthew in which Jesus promises never to leave us, but to be with us, ‘to the end of the age.’  We rightly conclude, then, that God is fundamentally pleased with Creation – with you and with me.  And God is desirous of our company, never wanting to leave our sides.  Though the changes and chances of life often leave us suspect of these conclusions, Trinity Sunday serves to remind us of God’s high regard for our lives – and deep desire to accompany us through whatever comes our way.

We are emboldened for our task by the witness of God’s approval of our humanity – and the Lord’s abiding friendship in our every endeavor.  What task are we facing that is calling forth courage?  What challenge are we contemplating that we simply cannot face alone?  The nature of Our God is one that encourages us for the task ahead and promises we will not face it by ourselves.  Be of good God courage then, for the One who loves us is always with us.

Reading

Faith, Reason, and Justice – Paul Tillich

Thieves in the Market – G. Jeffrey MacDonald

A Ray of Darkness – Rowan Williams