Today is Holy Trinity Sunday, the Sunday when we emphasize that the God we worship and follow is one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  This is difficult for us to understand, but with God all things are possible.  This God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is the One Who created, redeemed and sanctifies us.  Let us rejoice that He is God for and with us, redeeming us in Jesus.

The First Reading is Genesis 1:1 – 2:4a.  This is the seven-day account of creation.  Notice the hints at the Holy Trinity: God the Father creates with the Spirit of God hovering over the darkness and primordial chaos; when God creates, He speaks – immediately think of John chapter 1 where the Word of God became flesh in Jesus.  In the opening verses of the Bible we have the Trinity: The Father, Spirit of God, and the Word of God, Who will be enfleshed in Jesus.  

Holy God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we thank and praise You for Your actions to create, redeem, and sanctify us.  Keep our eyes of faith fixed on You as the One Who is involved in every aspect of our lives.  In Your Name we pray. Amen.

The psalm is a wonderful psalm of the creation, and of the importance of humans in God’s creation.  It is Psalm 8.  Notice the words of praise to God with which the psalm begins, and how the LORD overcomes all His enemies.  

Some clear evening take Psalm 8 outside and read it as you gaze into the canopy of stars above you.  If you feel insignificant in the vastness of the universe, remember the words of Psalm 8, that God has made us only a little lower than the angels and that He has given us stewardship of all His creation; we are important in how God has created and established the universe.  What is our response to what God has done?  O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your Name in all the earth!

O Lord, let us sing with the psalmist: O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your Name in all the earth!  All praise, honor, glory, and thanks be to You.  Through Jesus our Lord. Amen. 

The Second Reading is recorded in Acts 2:14a, 22-36, and is a continuation of the apostle Peter’s sermon from last Sunday.  Notice what he says, “…that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  He then proclaims Jesus’ death and resurrection, quoting from king David 1,000 years before Jesus’ earthly ministry, that all these events would happen.  This Jesus, crucified and resurrected, is both Lord and Christ.  Let us trust in His redemption of us.

Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we give You all thanks and praise for seeing us in our desperate need of forgiveness and redemption, for sending Jesus to redeem us, and for filling us with the Holy Spirit, calling us to faith, hope, and love in You. Amen.

The Gospel is recorded in Matthew 28:16-20.  This is the Great Commission of Jesus given to His disciples.  Notice that they worshiped Him, and some doubted.  Jesus didn’t drive away the doubters (if He did, we would all be driven away), but He appeared to them (and to us in Word and Sacrament) and then sent them on their mission: to make disciples by baptizing and teaching.  He calls us to that same mission: go, make disciples: baptize and teach them the Gospel of Jesus.  He is the ultimate authority through His death and resurrection, and as such He will be with us protecting and empowering us to be His witnesses.  Let us go and proclaim Him to all.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, draw us to You more and more as we receive You in Word and Sacrament, and empower us to go to all nations, making disciples by Baptizing in Your Name, and teaching them all You would have them know.  We thank and praise You that You are with us, keeping us in You into eternity.  In Your Name we pray.  Amen.