Message: Holy Mystery & Wholly Love / John 3:1-17

Today is Trinity Sunday, a day we celebrate a core belief of Christianity called the Trinity. Christians believe that there is one God in three Persons: God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. This concept is difficult to understand, and no one can fully explain the triune nature of God. If so, how can we grasp the mystery of the Trinity?

In today's Gospel reading, Nicodemus, a Jewish leader, visits Jesus at night. He has seen the signs Jesus performed and knows that Jesus is a teacher sent by God. To Nicodemus, who wants to learn the truth, Jesus says, "No one can see the Kingdom of God without being born from above." Nicodemus doesn’t understand this because it doesn’t make sense for someone to be born again.

Jesus continues to emphasize the idea of "new birth" and talks about being born from above and being born of water and the Holy Spirit, which reminds us of Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River. When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit came down from heaven, and God's voice said, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” It was a moment of unity between God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Through this holy mystery, Jesus experienced wholly love. That experience empowered Jesus to see the Kingdom of God and to start his ministry for the gospel of the kingdom.

There are things we can only truly understand through experience. For example, no matter how much you learn about rainbows, you can’t appreciate their beauty until you see one in the sky. Likewise, experience is the most important thing in understanding the triune God, who is Holy Mystery and Wholly Love. That's why Jesus said in today’s text, “The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.” In the original Greek text, the word for wind and Spirit is the same: πνεῦμα (pneuma). Ancient people understood the Holy Spirit through the wind. You can’t catch or see the wind, but you know it’s there because you can feel it. Only those who have experienced it can truly understand what the wind is.

Throughout history, many Christians have experienced God's holiness and love as the Trinity and described it using various symbols. A Song of Faith (2006), a faith statement of the United Church of Canada, illustrates this well:


    With the Church through the ages,

        we speak of God as one and triune:

           Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

         We also speak of God as

           Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer

           God, Christ, and Spirit

           Mother, Friend, and Comforter

           Source of Life, Living Word, and Bond of Love,

        and in other ways that speak faithfully of

          the One on whom our hearts rely,

          the fully shared life at the heart of the universe.

The doctrine of the Trinity invites us to think about our own experiences of God to share how we understand them. It is not just a theory or hypothesis; it is a statement of faith based on experiencing God as Holy Mystery and Wholly Love.

Recently, the doctrine of the Trinity has been emphasized within the church because people today need to have a better understanding of concepts such as individuality and community, love and freedom, solitude and relationships. Many feel isolated and lonely due to excessive consumerism, materialism, and individualism. Instead of engaging with loved ones, people spend more time on their cell phones, computers, or TVs. Through online platforms and social media, they get trapped in their own bubbles, seeking only the opinions and thoughts they agree with. This leads to more extreme political and ethical views, causing society to become more divided and polarized. Moreover, as material possessions and individual success become the main focus, deeper values and a sense of purpose are neglected. This results in a loss of meaning in life and a widespread feeling of emptiness. The "Lonely Crowd" continues to grow, reflecting these trends.

In this situation, some theologians are exploring the belief in the Trinity because it is a great example of harmonious relationships. The triune God is free in love and loves in freedom. Each Person within the Trinity both loves and is loved by the others. The Trinity is a continuous flow of giving and receiving in freedom. Traditionally, the church has described this relationship as “perichoresis” in Greek, which can be understood as “to dance around.” The triune God isn't like soldiers marching in a step towards one goal. Instead, the three Persons are in an eternal dance, fully embracing each other with love and freedom.

The dancing God invites us to join the dance. In this dance, we experience boundless love and freedom. Then, as Jesus says in today's text, we come to realize that “God loves the world and us so much.” Believing in the Trinity reminds us that we're called to be dancers in our congregation, our local community, and our world. God, who loves us as we are, calls us to dance with our unique selves.

In September 2018, I came to Canada to be a minister in the United Church of Canada. Despite my initial hopes and dreams, settling down in a new country was tough. Sometimes, I felt lonely because everything was so different from what I had been used to in Korea. The language barrier, especially, made me feel sensitive and isolated. I found it hard to understand my professors during classes, and I often couldn't get the jokes, so I'd awkwardly pretend to laugh along.

Under such circumstances, a significant moment happened when I first heard "A New Creed" of the United Church of Canada in the chapel at St. Andrew’s College. As many of you know, it starts with this: "We are not alone; we live in God's world." To me, it felt like hearing the voice of God from above, which gave me strength and courage. That place was like the Jordan River to me, where I felt once more that 'I am God’s beloved child and God is always with me'. Since then, many have shown me that this statement isn't just words. Whenever I faced difficulties and challenges, there was always somebody in the church and school who was willing to support and pray for me. Because of this, I was able to complete my ordination process and continue to do ministry here, sharing the grace and love of the triune God.

God is Holy Mystery and Wholly Love. The triune God invites us to be dancers of love and freedom. We are not alone; God is with us. In this faith community, we dance together. We are never alone; we have each other. We support one another. We stand side by side. We are diverse, yet one in the triune God. We are united in God's love and freedom. May the grace and peace of the triune God be with you always. 

Thanks be to God. Amen.



Rev. Min Hwang

South Stormont Pastoral Charge

(Ingleside-Newington United Church & St. Andrew's-St. Mark's United Church)

Trinity Sunday, May 26, 2024

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