Friends,
According to the traditions of the Church calendar, this coming Sunday is Trinity Sunday, a day I love because I love the Trinity. Not only is the Trinity comprised of “The Three Men I Admire Most” (to quote a song), but the doctrine of the Trinity is a belief that connects Christians to the divine mystery of God.
Or at least the Trinity has the potential to connect people to God’s mystery. The Trinity is also a matter of theological orthodoxy, which means that over the years a lot of folks have become overly attached to their beliefs about God being at the same time one and three. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
The Trinity is an idea that makes no sense. God cannot be one and three any more than a circle can be a square. Yet for at least 1700 years, most Christians have affirmed this logical impossibility as a core belief, which is wonderful. Our faith is built on something that cannot be explained. It’s a mystery, which is something that should prevent us from taking ourselves or our religion too seriously.
When it comes to religion, not taking one’s self too seriously is a moral virtue. As far as I know, no one has ever committed acts of terror or violence in God’s name after saying, “My beliefs about God are an illogical mystery.”
So I say, “Three cheers for the Trinity!” I believe in celebrating those beliefs that must be imagined rather than explained. May such beliefs keep us humble and peaceable and filled with joy.
So friends,
The Creator who brought order out of chaos,
give peace to you.
The Savior who stilled the raging storm,
give peace to you
The Spirit who broods on the deeps,
give peace to you.
And in all things may the Trinity mystery instruct your faith so that yours is a religion of joyful and humble good will.
God’s Peace,
Ben