God's Word for Trinity Sunday

God so loved the world

The Most Holy Trinity, Year A

Exodus 34:4-6. 8-9. Psalm: Daniel 3:52-56. Rv. 52 . 2Cor. 13:11-13. John 3: 16-18.

A God of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in kindness.

Blest your glorious holy name.

The grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

 

Gospel  

Jn 3:16-18

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Experience Truth

            Our problem is that we learn so many truths but they don’t mean anything to us. If they did, they would transform us. One such truth is that God is your Father and loves you. He conceived you in his heart before the world was made. He knew your name and chose you for his own (Ephesians 1:3). He wanted a child whom he could love and with whom he could share his life and everything he has. So the Creator called you by name. You are his. He will always be with you. You are precious to him, and he will honour you because he loves you. (Isaiah 43:1-4). Your parents may forget you, but he will never forget you. He has your image on the palm of his hand (Isaiah 49:15). You are co-heir with his only Son (Gal 4:7).

            It was to reveal his love for each of us that the Father sent his Son, Jesus. No one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom he has revealed him (Matthew 11:28). Jesus is the image of the invisible God and loved his own in the world to perfection (John 13:1). Who are his own? Anyone who follows the light of his conscience belongs to Jesus even if he does not know him. Those who accept him as Lord and Saviour become the children of his Father.

            Many of us have been given a false image of God. Many see him as one who punishes and sends to hell, who tries to make life hard for us and sends us trials and sicknesses, who forbids just what we would like to do. He is vindictive and a spoil sport. These are false images of God. If anyone goes to hell, it is their choice, not God’s.

            The Father welcomes us home like the father in the story of the prodigal son. He is so glad to see him again that he treats him not as a wastrel but as his beloved son (Luke 15:20). This is Jesus’ image of the Father. He is the God who gets down on his knees and washes our feet treating us as beloved and honoured guests (John 13:1 ff). He is the God who gives himself to us till he can give no more and hangs limp on the Cross having poured out his life for us.

            If only we could have a true image of God our Father. One person did really understand. He had been a bitter persecutor of everything to do with Jesus. His heart was full of hatred and anger. Then he came to realize: God in Jesus loved him and gave his life for him. The truth overwhelmed and changed him. From Saul he became Paul.

What is your image of God? How do you see him? What is your attitude to him?

Father, may we taste and see that you are good and call you Abba, Dad.