“O Lord our Governor, how exalted is your Name in all the world!’ (Psalm 8). The Psalmist considers the greatness of God and His glory in all of creation, then with humility and awe, he declares, “What is man that you should be mindful of him?”
On Sunday’s solemn feast day, Trinity Sunday, we focus on the glorious, exalted, incomprehensible mystery of the oneness of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We celebrate also the deep, boundless love of God that invites us, humans, into a relationship with the divine Union. Sunday’s first reading (Genesis 1:1-2:4) looks back to the awesome work of God in creation. God wonderfully formed and sustains all that exists and from the beginning, God chose to honor humanity by inviting us to participate in the sacred task of managing creation.
In the gospel reading (Matthew 28:16-20), the last recorded encounter between Jesus and the disciples, God in Christ chose this time, to invite His followers to participate in the recreation of all humanity. He does so by commissioning the eleven disciples to go and be conduits in His mission of reconciling all peoples to Himself for His kingdom.
The Risen Christ proclaimed that He has been empowered with “all authority” in the heavenly and earthly realms for He is truly the divine Son of God, living in union with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He will share His divine authority with the disciples through the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit in them. No longer will pilgrims seeking God need to stream to Jerusalem. Instead, the disciples are to go to all nations making disciples everywhere.
This commissioning ushers in the Church, the communal body of believers, with a common identity of learners, and disciples, striving to bring their lives under the Lordship of Christ. The making of disciples will therefore include teaching all that Christ commanded the disciples to do and be. But the supreme task assigned to the disciples is the administration of the Sacrament of Baptism to new believers. By baptizing new believers, the disciples truly became God’s conduit through which new believers are reborn, a new creation incorporated into the divine family as children of God. The new believer’s identity is the seal mystically placed upon them as they are baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, revealing their participation in the life of God’s Oneness.
God shares God’s life with us, and He promises to be with us always, “to the end of the age.” How comforting! Matthew’s Gospel began with Christ being called Emmanuel, “God with us,” and ended with His promise of a constant presence in the form of the indwelling Triune life. God is steadfastly faithful and is present with us as we share in His redeeming work. How great is our God who adorns us, humans, with glory and honor by inviting and equipping us to participate in the awesome work of humankind’s redemption for His kingdom? May we, relying on the power of our Triune God, courageously bear witness of His goodness and divine love.
