Ringwood Knox Lutheran Parish

where love comes to life

Year A – Trinity Sunday

4 June 2023 - Year A - Trinity Sunday

Text: Genesis 1:1-2:4a

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, 2 the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

6 And God said, “Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. 8 God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. 9 And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day. 14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. 17 God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day. 20 And God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.” 21 So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day. 24 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.” And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”

27 So God created humankind in his image,     in the image of God he created them;     male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” 29 God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

2 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. 2 And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.

4 These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created.  

New International Version - for other versions see BibleGateway.com

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Sermon - Year A – Trinity Sunday

Pastor Peter Ghalayini

The question of Creation is a debate that occurs not just between atheists and Christians but even amongst Christians. Did God create the world in 6 literal days or are they symbolic days. Questions are raised that if they are 24 hour days then how were those days determined if the Sun, Moon and Stars were only created on day four as Genesis itself says – Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years. Sadly what is lost in this debate – as often happens when we debate things we disagree with – is the blessing that come from an understanding that God is our Creator who made the heavens and earth and all that exists.

Let us refresh our understanding of the significance of this first chapter of Genesis and what it means that God is our Creator: Day One – God said, “let there be light”. Let us understand what this light it as we often misunderstand it as the light that we experience during daytime. But that wouldn’t make sense as this light that we call daytime only came on day 4 when God created the sun, moon and stars to make distinction between night and day. This is the light of God’s presence in the world – the very first of God’s creation without which no creation would be possible. This light is the assurance that God’s presence is in the very world we experience each day even if we don’t realise that God is present with us. It is the glory of the Lord that was experienced by Israel with the pillar of fire to lead them out of Egypt – the glory of the Lord that descended as a glory cloud when God met with Moses. It is the fire that came upon the Apostles as tongues of fire when the Holy Spirit came upon them. This is the light where God separated the light from the darkness in John’s Gospel where John explains the same presence of Jesus Christ in the world.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all humankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John links this light with creation – the life and light of all humankind. This is the light that took the chaos in the beginning when the world was void and empty and brought order. This is the presence of God in our lives that brings meaning and purpose to life.

This is the same presence of God in our lives that brings order and harmony in our lives. And from that foundation the rest of creation begins: Even when there is turmoil and disruption in your life, God’s presence comes and returns that peace that the world cannot give – the peace that goes beyond all understanding – let there be light. The light of Christ that breaks the darkness of the world which is affirmed by Jesus when he says – I AM the light of the world – and then Jesus sends you – you are the light of the world.

And from that first day of Creation God then begins to shape that order in life just as God shapes order into our lives – creating dry land to allow the growth of trees and vegetation. Then life is possible through birds of the air – fish in the sea – animals to roam the earth. And then the peak of creation – human beings – you and me – made in his image. Human beings created to care for the world and to be blessed by the world and all it produces. Being created in God’s image means we have unity with God – oneness with God. It’s what is known as “Shalom” in the Hebrew bible. A special relationship that Satan ruined through sin through deception when he got Eve to believe that being “like” God was better than being created in the image of God.

So we too need to be aware of anything that diminishes just how special we are to God as his creation – created in his image. God has created order and peace in the world and in our lives. And the Holy Trinity examples that peace and order. And that’s what Paul says also today: Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace – shalom; and the God of love and peace will be with you. And, he says, by this, The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit – the Holy Trinity – be with all of you.

We might feel a little disappointed if we were expecting today’s reading to explain what the Trinity is. Unlike the past few weeks where things like The Ascension and Pentecost were quite easily detected in the Bible Readings, an explanation of the Trinity falls well short in today’s readings. Instead our Bible readings talk about relationships because that is exactly what the Trinity is about – relationships. We don’t try and understand “what” the Trinity is but rather “who” the Trinity is. And that’s what we discover in our Bible readings that the Trinity is about relationships. Firstly within God and then with one another.  That God has revealed himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit – an interpersonal relationship which we describe as One God in Three Person – Trinity – Triune- Tri-Unity. And then God calls us to live that unity with one another.

So our first reading describes that interpersonal unity of relationship in the beginning of Creation. You might not initially see it but here in the first 3 verses we see the Trinity at work although not mentioned. That God created the Heavens and the Earth. That’s how our creeds begin – I believe in God the Father maker of heaven and earth. Then we see the Holy Spirit hovering over the chaotic waters of the void earth looking to bring order out of chaos which Jesus did on that day when the disciples were locked away in fear – in chaos. He stood among them and said – peace be with you – shalom. And he breathed on them and said – receive the Holy Spirit. And now the world is ready and prepared for creation: God does this through his Word: Let there be light. This light is the Word that was in the beginning as John told us: In the beginning was the Word and the word was with God and the word was God – and the word became flesh and dwelt among us. And Jesus promises that in our Baptism he dwells with us forever – I am with you always till the end of the age.

So whatever is happening in your life. Whatever is causing any turmoil or chaos – God comes to you in a relationship to bring peace. To bring Shalom. Every time we worship God invites you to share his heavenly Sabbath – his day of rest to reset your life to prepare you for the week ahead. The Trinity is a model of beauty and peace where God dwells in harmony as Father, Son and Holy Spirit and invites you to come and rest in him and live in his peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.